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A HISTORY 



OF THE 



Citg 0f toilliamsbtttgl) ; 



CONTAINING 



A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF ITS EAULY SETTLEMENT, RAPID 

GROWTH AND PROSPEROUS CONDITION ; WITH MANY 

OTHER lAIPORTANT AND INTERESTING FACTS 

CONNECTED WITH THE SAME. 



BY SAMUEL REYNOLDS, 
Rector of the Williamsburgh Grammar SchooL 



WILLIAMSBURGH : 

PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH C. GANDAR, 

156 GRAND STREET, 



1852. 



Entered according to an act of Congress, in the year 1852, 
by Samuel ReynoldSj in the Clerk's Office of the District 
Court for the Southern District of New- York. 



^^ 



5 

DAILY TIMES PRINT. 



TO 

HIS HONOR MAYOR BERRY, 

THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLIAMSBURGH ; 

The first in authority under the neiv Charter, this work 
— A History of the City from its earliest infancy to 
manhood — is inscribed, by 

Their humble servafit, the Author, 

SAMUEL REYNOLDS. 



PREFACE 



As " we are born too late to see the beginning, and die 
too soon to see the end of many things," History becomes 
necessary to supply these two defects. To rescue from 
oblivion the memory of former incidents, to preserve a 
truthful record of the earliest events connected with the 
name of Williamsburgh, and to give a just tribute of 
praise to the former patrons of our flourishing city, this 
Historical Sketch is produced. With considerable anxiety 
have we beheld the early History of Williamsburgh 
" trembling on the lips of narrative," and ready to drop 
into the tomb of forgetfulness, and posterity left in vain to 
search for the names and deeds of the founders of this 
promising city. Being, therefore, determined, if possible, 
to avert this threatened misfortune, we industriously set 
ourselves to work to gather all the fragments of our 
infant History that existed, and to collect all the reliable 
information where no records could be found. How far 
we have succeeded in our humble efforts, must be sub- 
mitted to the consideration of our intelligent readers. 
Our principal aim has not been, " ornament of style or 
eloquence in description," but on the contrary, to present 
a brief and exact account of such matters relating to ouj 
city as shall be considered most worthy of preserving, and 
most likely to prove a valuable repository of historical and 



1# 



<M, 



VI PREFACE. 

statistical information. When it is remembered that this 
fair city, now so greatly advanced in population and wealth, 
was, not more than thirty years ago, the home of a few 
rustic farmers, who practised rural habits, and lived a 
" country life," it must be a matter of importance, as well 
as curiosity, to trace the rapid progress of this eventful 
History, and transmit the result to posterity. Let it be 
remembered, however, that we make no pretensions of 
furnishing a complete History of Williamsburgh, if such 
a work could be produced. We are aware that much 
more important matter might have been, and without 
doubt, at some future time will be obtained. 

Such a History as this, is necessarily made up of isolated 
gleanings from never-ending sources. It follows, therefore, 
that in this choice of selection, much that is valuable and 
interesting may have been passed over or rejected. 

Should our feeble endeavors, in this instance, to be useful 
to cur citizens, prove in any degree satisfactory, we shall 
conceive ourselves to be more than amply rewarded for the 
labor it has cost us. For the courteous and gentlemanly 
manner in which many of our most respectable citizens 
have kindly given us much valuable information, our 
acknowledgments are due. We especially return them to 
his Hon. Mayor Berry, Esquire Aymar, Messrs. Darbee & 
Son, Mr. William H. Butler, Mr. John Morrell, Mr. Edwin 
Ferry, Mr. Paul J. Fish, Mr. J. Anderson, Mr. J. Duncan, 
Mr. Andrew Dickinson, and many other gentlemen. 

We have deemed it expedient to devote our first chapter 
to a brief narrative and description of Long-Island, as 
being in some measure essential to the History of Wil- 
liamsburgh ; for, as Knickerbocker has it, " if this world 
had not been formed, it is more than probable that the 
City of New York would never have had an existence ;'* 



niEFACE. vn 

so, if Long-Island had not been formed, or yet discovered, 
it is absolutely certain that " Williamsburgh, L. L," would 
never have had identity or existence. 

"We hope hereafter to present, year after year, accom- 
panied with the Directory, the Annals of WiUiamsburgh, 
and by commencing at the foundation, and laying stone by 
stone, a superstructure may be reared, presenting its ex- 
pended proportions, if not its graceful symmetry, and 
architectural embellishment. 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



€xtn of tDUliam0bttrgl). 



CHAPTER I. 

We have heard of some traditions among the Spaniards 
and Dutch, that, this part of the world had been visited 
by Em-op eans, before the "renowned Hudson ascended the 
noble river which bears his name." However, as there 
were found no traces of civilization, and no evidence what- 
ever, to warrant such a supposition, we believe that none 
but savages ever possessed this country previous to the ar- 
rival of the English mariner Hudson. 

Two hundred and forty-two years ago, the third day of 
September last, Hudson first saw the shores of Long Island. 
On the fourth of September, 1609, he sent his men on shore 
in a boat, who " caught ten great Mullet a foot and a 
half long and a Ray as great as four men coidd haid 
into the ship''^ Joseph W. Moulton, Esq., in his his- 
tory of New York informs us, that they " found the soil of 
white sand and a great number of plumb trees loaded 
with fruit ; and many of them covered with grape vines 
of different kinds. They also saw a great quantity of 
Snipe and other birds. They sailed up the great river 
then called Shawtemuck, when the natives crowded to the 
shores, on beholding so novel an4 exciting a spectacle. It 
is difficult to imagine the wonderful efiect this strange 



*Yide Thompson's History of Long Island. 



10 HISTORY OF 

sight produced on those savages when they beheld men so 
different in appearance from themselves and speaking a 
language, to them unmeaning and unintelligible. Such a 
wonderful event must have created fearful apprehensions 
in the minds of those " ignorant and unsophisticated In- 
dians. " The natives, who were clothed with the skins of 
animals, manifested no intentions of unkindness when 
Hudson first landed among them. De Laet tells us, that 
after their first acquaintance they frequently visited 
Hudson's ship, and thus intercourse and friendship were 
mutually preserved. 

Long Island at this time had various appellations, the 
most current of which was " Sewaiihackyj" which signifies 
the island of shells. 

It may not be amiss to give, briefly, a description of 
Long Island, which can be done as follows : 

•' Long Island lies at the south-eastern portion of the 
State of New York, and .extends from about 40° 34' to 
41° 10' North Latitude, and from 2° 58Mo 5° 3^ East 
Longitude, reckoned from Washington City, or 71° 4,1' to 
5° 3' west from Greenwich. Its length from Fort 
Hamilton at the Narrows to Montauk Point is about 130 
miles. Its breadth from the Narrows, as far east as the 
Peconic Bay, varies from 12 to 20 miles in a distance of 
90 miles, widening in a space of 40 miles from Brooklyn, 
and then gradually lessening in width to the head of 
Peconic Bay. Long Island is bounded on the west partly 
by the Narrows and partly by New York Bay, and the 
East River, and partly by Long Island Sound ; on the 
north by the Sound ; on the east by the Sound and 
Gardiner's Bay ; and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, 
together with the islands called the North and South 
Brother and Hiker's Island, in the East River ; Plumb 
Island, Great and Little Gull Island, Fisher's Island, and 
Gardiner's Island in the Sound, Shelter Island and Robin's 
Island in Peconic Bay." The area of the island has been 
estimated to be fifteen .hundred square miles, or nine 
hundred and sixty thousand square acres. 

On the northern part of the island the soil is loamy, on 
the south sand prevails, while through the middle portions 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 1 1 

it is composed of sand or gravel, covered to the depth of 
several inches with mould, formed by the decomposition of 
vegetable matter. The soil of Kings County is equal, if 
not superior to any part of the Island, except that found 
upon the points and necks on both sides, which is extremely 
fertile. 

The influence of the sea renders Long Island, situated 
as it is, more temperate than many other places of similar 
latitude in the interior. During the Summer season, and 
especially in the afternoons of July and August, the Island 
is cooled by a breeze from the ocean, which renders it a 
very desirable place for residence through that enervating 
part of the year. The thermometer seldom falls below 
zero in Winter, nor rises above 90*^ in Summer. The 
long continuance of cold in some seasons, at intervals of 
eight or ten years, as Avas the case in the Winter of 1 85 1-' 2, 
is thought to be attributable to the eflect of large bodies 
of floating ice formed at the poles and being detached 
from the great mass are brought down by the prevailing 
currents towards our coast, rendering the air, while passing 
our latitude, much colder and the Winter much longer than 
usual. 

In digging wells and excavating the earth for other 
purposes, sand and gravel, mixed with marine shells, have 
been found at the depth of fifty feet and more below the 
surface, throughout the different towns of Kings County. 
In Newtown, carbonated wood has been raised from the 
bottom of a shaft fifty feet deep. In Bushwick, the body 
of a tree was found lying across a well at a depth of forty- 
five feet. Clams and oysters were also found at the depth 
of sixty-seven feet, near the Narrows of New Utrecht, and 
also the shell of a large periwinkle was discovered very 
little damaged at the depth of tM'o hundred and fifty feet. 
President Dwight, of Yale College, who made a tour 
through the Island for the purpose of examining its 
physical features, mentions that on the eastern border of 
Hempstead Plain, some workmen who were digging a 
well, found a log of wood three feet long and one in 
diameter, at the depth of one hundred and eighty feet; 
the exterior was decayed near an inch deep, the rest 



1*J HISTORY OF 

perfectly sound. In digging a well a short time after- 
wards, the greater part of a tree was found at the depth 
of one hundred feet. The wood was put upon the lire and 
burnt very well. From the above facts, and many others 
similar, which might be adduced, we conclude that the 
materials of which a great portion of this Island is 
composed were once covered by the ocean ; and that by 
causes which Geologists cannot definitely explain, were 
thrown up into their present form. That Long Island was 
once, through its whole extent, attached to the main land, 
and that some powerful agent forced the separation which 
is now marked by the intervention of the sound, is an 
hypothesis to which we shall not concede. That much of 
the southern part of the Island has been made by the 
action and reaction of the sea, and much of other parts 
lost or carried away by attrition, is, we think, incontestible. 
Within the recollection of many old inhabitants of Long 
Island, large portions of land have been washed away in 
some, and as much added in other parts. Mr. Mather 
estimates that at least one thousand tons of matter are 
daily transported from the shores of Long Island ; and it 
is thought probable that the east end was once much 
larger than it is at present, while other parts of the Island 
are receiving greater acquisitions. 

On the arrival of Europeans, the Indians were found 
divided into distinct tribes ; each tribe having its own 
chief or sachem, who held supreme power in the manage- 
ment of public afiairs, carrying on of war, &c.=* The 
principal tribes occupying the Island with undisputed 
claim were about thirteen in number. It would be foreign 
to the design of this work, as well as uninteresting to the 
reader, to enter into a minute description of these several 
tribes, we shall therefore content ourselves by giving a 
passing^notice of the principal one. The Montauk Tribe 
had jurisdiction over all the northern part of the Island, 
The chief of this tribe was acknowledged the grand 
Sachem of the Island. 



*Vide Thompson. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 13 

The religious opinions of the Long Island Indians are 
thus described by Rev. Sampson Occom, an educated 
Indian minister, " They believe in a plurality of Gods, 
and in one great and good being who controls all the rest. 
They likewise believe in an evil spirit, and have their 
paw- was or conjurors." 

" When the English first commenced the settlement of 
Long Island," says Gen. Johnson, " the Indians annoyed 
them very much by the multitude of dogs they kept, 
which were ordinarily young wolves brought up tame, but 
continued of a very ravenous nature." 

The reduction of the Indians was so rapid, that in 1761, 
they had diminished to the number of thirty-eight families 
from the once numerous and powerful Montauks. Of these 
remaining families, but very few were left after the 
emigration of the Rev. Sampson Occom to Oneida 
County, in 1783. 

The lands were purchased by the whites from the chiefs 
of the different tribes, or head men associated Avith them, 
and from whom have descended all the titles to real estate 
on the Island. 

The Governor of New Netherlands purchased the lands 
in Kings County from the natives, and subsequently 
disposed of them to the settlers ; but most of the other 
lands were purchased by the settlers themselves, directly 
from the natives, and for which, patents of confirmation 
were afterwards obtained of the Governor. 

Kings County, which is divided into six towns, was 
organized, Nov. 1,1683, by an act which "divided the 
province into counties." The six towns are Bush wick, 
Brooklyn, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Utrecht, and Graves- 
end. The courts were removed in 1686 from the village 
of Gravesend to that of Flatbush, in pursuance of an act 
which had passed the year before. The court-house and 
jail in Flatbush, which were erected in 1792, were 
destroyed by fire on the 30th of November, 1832. The 
courts since that time have been held in the town, now 
city, of Brooklyn. 

' For the amusement, as well as edification of our readers, 
we submit the following agreement with one Johannis 
2 



14 HISTORY OF 

Van Eckkellen, Schoolmaster of Flatbush, in 1682. The 
contrast between the Literary Institutions of Kings County 
at that time and the present, will serve to give a pretty 
adequate idea of the progress of education during the last 
hundred and fifty years : 

" Art. 1 . — The school shall begin at 8 o'clock, and go out at 
11 ; shall begin at 1 o'clock and end at 4. The bell shall be 
rung before the school begins. 

Art. 2. — When school opens, one of the children shall read 
the morning prayer as it stands in the catechism, and close 
with the prayer before dmner ■ and in the afternoon, the same. 
The evening school shall begin with the Lord's prayer, and 
close by singing a psalm. 

Art. 3. — He shall instruct the children in the common 
prayers ; and the questions and answers of the catechism on 
Wednesdays and Saturdays, to enable them to say them better 
on Sunday in the church. 

Art. 4. — He shall be bound to keep his school nine months 
in succession, from September to June, one year with another ; 
and shall always be present himself. 

Art. 5. — He shall be chorister of the church; ring the bell 
three times before service, and read a chapter of the Bible in 
the church between the second and third ringing of the bell ; 
after the third ringing, he shall read the ten commandments 
and the twelve articles of faith, and then set the psalm. In 
the afternoon, after the third ringing of the bell, he shall 
read a short chapter or one of the psalms of David as the 
congregation are assembling ; afterwards he shall again set 
the psalm. 

Art. 6. — When the minister shall preach at Brooklyn or 
Utrecht, he shall be bound to read twice before the congre- 
gation from the book used for the purpose. He shall hear the 
children recite the questions and answers of the catechism on 
Sunday and instruct them. 

Art. 7. — He shall provide a basin of water for the baptism 
for which he shall receive twelve styvers in Wampom for 
every baptism, from the parents or sponsors. He shall furnish 
bread and wine for the communion, at the charge of the 
church. He shall also serve as messenger for the consistories. 

Art. 8. — He shall give the funeral invitations, and toll the 
bell ; and for which he shall receive, for persons of fifteen 
years of age and upwards twelve guilders ■ and for persons 
under fifteen, eight guilders ; and if he shall cross the river 
to New York, he shall have four guilders more. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 15 

The school money. 

1st. He shall receive, for a speller or reader, three guilders 
a quarter ; and for a writer, 4 guilders, for the day school. 
In the evening, four guilders for a speller or reader, and five 
guilders for a writer per quarter , 

2d. The residue of his salary shall be four hundred guilders 
in wheat (of Wampom value,) deliverable at Brooklyn Ferry, 
with the dwelling, pasturage and meadow, appertaining to the 
school. 

Done and agreed on in consistory, in the presence of the 
constable and trustees, this 8th day of October, 1682. Signed 
by Caspar Van Zuren and the consistory." 

" I ^agree to the above articles, and promise to observe 
them. 

" Johannis Van Eckkellen.^^ 

The town of Bushwick, part of which formed the 
village, and since the 1st of January, 18o2, the city, of 
Williamsburgh, lies in the north-eastern extremity of 
Kings County, with an area of thirty-nine hundred acres, 
nearly the whole of which is either in. a high state of culti- 
vation, or laid out in building lots. Its contiguity to the 
cities of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn, and its proximity to 
the metropolis, render the soil highly valuable for agricul- 
tural and horticultural purposes. The name Bushwick, 
(Bostvyck,) is of Dutch origin, indicating that the territory 
abounded in woods. The first settlements were made by 
the Dutch, who were joined by the Huguenots — French. 
Protestants, driven from their native land by the perse- 
cution they suffered under Charles IX. 

The town records commence abx)ut the year 1660. We 
take the liberty of submitting the following extract, 
translated by Gen. Johnson : 

" February 14th, 1660, Peter Stuyvesant, Director 
General, and his High Council of the New Netherlands, 
ordain that the outside residents who dwell distant from 
each other, must remove and concentrate themselves 
within the neighboring towns, and dwell in the same, 
because we have war with the Indians, who have slain 
several of our Netherland people. 

" Feb. 16th, As fourteen Frenchmen, with a Dutchman 
named Peter John Dewit, their interpreter, have arrived 



16 . HISTORY OF 

here, and as they do not understand the Dutch language, 
they have been with the Director General, and requested 
him to cause a town plot to be laid out at a proper place ; 
whereupon his honor fixed upon the 19th inst. to visit the 
place, and fix upon a site. 

"Feb. 19th. On this day the Director General, with 
the Fiscal, Nicarius D. Silla, and his Honor, Ser. Van 
Rauven, with the sworn surveyor, Jaques Corlear, came to 
Mispat, (Maspeth,) and have fixed upon a place between 
Mispat Hill and Norman's Hill, to establish a village and 
have laid out by survey twenty-two house lots on which 
dwelling houses are to be built. 

" March 7th. The first house being erected near the 
pond, William Traphagan with his family, and Koert 
Mourison came to dwell in the same. Other houses were 
erected during the year. 

"March 14th, 1661. The Director General visited the 
new village, when the inliabitants requested his honor to 
give the place a name, whereupon he named the town 
Boswijck (Boswyck)." 

There being some defects in the municipal charter, 
granted fey Gov. Stuyvesant, the inhabitants appointed a 
committee to wait upon Nicolls, the succeeding Governor, 
for the purpose of obtaining a new patent, wherein the 
boundaries of their territory should be more definitely set 
forth. This new patent was obtained on the 25th of 
October, 1667, in which the boundaries are thus described. 

''Bounded with the mouth of a certain creeke or kill, called 
Maspeth-Kill, right over against Dominie-Hook, soe their 
bounds goe to David Joeham's Hook ; then stretching upon a 
south-east line along the said Kill, they come to Smith's 
Island, including the same, together with all the meadow- 
ground or valley thereunto belonging; and continuing the 
same course, they pass along by the fFence at the woodside, 
B06 to Thomas Wandall's meadow, from thence, stretching 
iipon a south-east by south line, along the- woodland to the 
Kills, taking in the meadow or valley there ; then pass along 
near upon a south-east by south line six hundred rod into the 
woods ] then running behind the lots as the woodland lyes, 
south-west by south ; and out of the said woods, they goe 
again north-west, to a certain small swamp ; from thence they 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 17 

run behind the New Lotts, to John the Sweede's-meadow ; 
then over the Norman's-Kill, to the west end of his old house, 
from whence they goe alongst the river, till you come to the 
mouth of Maspeth-Kill and David Jocham's Hook, whence 
they first began." 

There are a few families here, who can trace their 
pedigree as far back as the date of the above patent, and 
whose ancestors possessed at that time the identical lands' 
now in the occupation of themselves, the descendants. 

At the time of the revolution, the inhabitants of 
Bush wick, though comparatively few in number, suffered 
considerably from the depredations of the enemy, who 
during their marauding expeditions destroyed whatever 
their malice or caprice suggested. The nearness and easy 
access of the forests of Bushwick to the garrisons of New 
York and Brooklyn, gave ample opportunity for taking ofi^ 
all the most valuable timber, which opportunity, the 
enemy thoroughly improved. 

When the owners returned to their homes at the close 
of the contest, they found their woods and fences destroyed, 
and in several instances their buildings partially demol- 
ished. The inhabitants of Bushwick took great interest 
in ail the movements of the revolution, and many of them 
were quite active in promoting the glorious result. 



2# 



18 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER II. 

As the History of Williamsburgh, rather than Bush wick, 
is our theme, we shall leave the farther mention of the 
latter and commence our investigations of the circum- 
stances and facts connected with that of the former. To 
the curious and inquisitive who may wish to know why 
and ivherefore was the name of Williamsburgh given to 
this place, we answer : " About the commencement of 
the present century, a gentleman named Richard W. 
WoodhuU, purchased a tract of land in the vicinity of 
North Second-street — then called Bushwick-street — and 
established the first Ferry to New- York. Out of a 
compliment to a friend of his — Col. Williams, U. S. 
Engineer — he named his purchase Williamsburgh, and 
the ferry was called " The Williamsburgh Ferry." Soon 
after the whole territory from the Wallabout Bay to 
Bushwick Creek, or Norman's Kell, was called Williams- 
burgh. Previous to this, the region lying along the shore 
was called the Strand." 

A more beautiful spot for a city could not be found on 
Long Island, nor in the vicinity of New- York. All 
locations fronting the west, as Williamsburgh does, gives, 
with the setting sun a "picturesque horizon," and "a 
zephyr of mild and balmy fragrance " conducive to the 
health of the body and the vigor of the mind. 

Many persons express their wonder at the rapid march 
and increase Williamsburgh has made, but to us the 
wonder is that she did not unfold her arms and extend her 
embrace sooner ; and that her increase was for the first 
twenty years so tardy. It is allowed by every one that 
New- York is more favorably situated for foreign commerce 
than any other city in the Western world ; having a 
spacious bay and harbor in which any number of ships 
can ride safely at anchor, affording ingress and egress for 
the largest vessels the whole of the year. We think, 
therefore, that no site could have been selected for the 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 19 

metropolis of America, possessing so many advantages. 
When we take this into consideration, together with the 
fact that it is much more convenient as well as economical 
for merchants, and business men in general, to make their 
residences in Williamsburgh, than in the upper part of 
New York city, who can wonder at our unprecedented 
increase and prosperity, thus intimately connected with 
the metropolis of the "Western world?" 

We must, however, express our regret that there 
appears to be unnecessary delay in the regulating of 
several important streets running east and west. We 
sincerely hope the time is at hand when they v^ill be 
paved, and rendered equal to our most pleasant and 
inviting thoroughfares. There are, however, several public 
conveniences, which appear to be essential to the comfort 
and existence of a large city, of which we are destitute. 

Among these may be mentioned a Market and Public 
Parks, and although our maxim is '' de mortuis nil nisi 
honum^'' we are obliged to condemn the narrow-minded- 
ness and " pound foolish" economy of our first " Village 
Fathers, " who made no provision for those public indis- 
pensable conveniences, which we ought now to enjoy. 

We refer not, in particular, to any one Board of 
Officers, much less to any individual, but implicate every 
Board of Trustees for such criminal neglect of the future 
comfort and health of the city. But the question arises 
in our mind, is the project of a market or of Public Parks 
abandoned in despair? We trow not. We know not 
why a suitable site for a market could not be procured in 
the most desirable part of the city, and a building adequate 
to the wants of our growing population at once erected. 
We are aware that to procure sufficient area for a 
respectable sized Park, in the most desirable part of the 
city, would be to incur a heavy expense on the citizens ; 
but will those expenses grow smaller by delay ? Will not 
the price of real estate advance, and the difficulty of 
obtaining such land increase with the increased delay ■? 
We cannot believe that our present officers will continue 
this narrow-minded policy, and longer procrastinate these 



20 HISTORY OF 

important operations, which should be promptly attended 
to. 

With these few hints on the subject, we must leave the 
inatter to the reflection of our intelligent readers, the good 
judgment of the public, and the sage action of the city 
fathers, hoping that by another year, we may have the 
pleasure of recording the erection of an extensive and 
elegant market, and at least one large and beautiful 
Public Park, We are morally certain that by that time, 
two or three Banks will have been successfully and 
permanently established, by our most wealthy and 
respectable citizens, and an Athenseum erected, to promote 
the Literary Institutions of the City. Although we are 
destitute of the above concomitants of a city, Williams- 
burgh has for the last two or three years rapidly assumed 
the aspect and appearance implied by that name, to which 
her many finely regulated streets, lofty spires, and crowded 
thoroughfares testify. The following graphic sketch of 
Williamsburgh from the pen of our esteemed literary 
friend, Mr. Andrew Dickinson, will serve to show the 
reader in what a short space of time this territory, once 
known as the Strand, has been metamorphosed into a pop- 
ulous city. We publish the sketch verhatmi : 

"The rapid growth of Williamsburgh from a few 
scattering farm houses to a city of forty odd thousand, is 
remarkable. But its greatest and healthiest growth has 
been within the last three or four years. For a long time 
neglected and despised, that beautiful strip between 
Newtown Creek and the Wallabout Bay was destined by 
the God of Nature for a thriving, beautiful city. Yet 
still, till within a very short time, many persons more 
notable for prejudice and selfishness than sagacity, were 
wont to speak sneeringly of its condition and future 
prospects. You once saw sprinkled about, helter-skelter, a 
few mean-looking houses, mostly after architectural models 
of the poorer class of Knickerbockeis. These tenements 
stood at all points of the compass, just as the farm line 
might happen to run. Some of them had quite a tumble- 
down look. And there stood the old Dutch Church, with 
antiquated steeple, stooping forward with age, and covered 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 21 

with dingy, weather-beaten shingles. It underwent some 
few years since a most surprising metamorphosis. 

" Yet though the moral aspect of the town fifteen years 
ago was quite uninviting, trees, farms, and orchards made 
it look rural and attractive. In 1835, South Seventh and 
South Eighth streets were the only ones opened below 
Grand street, running from the river. The entire south 
side had live or six dwellings, all told. What do we see 
now? Long, well-built streets lighted with gas. On 
every hand are the marks of prosperous enterprise ; and 
tasteful spires bristle skieward, affording a prominent land- 
mark of a great distance. Of American cities, we are of 
the twentieth magnitude ! 

" An effort to establish a church was deemed by some 
prudent folks in those days of selfish economy as visionary. 
As a specimen of the religious destitution, services were 
held by a mere handful of Episcopalians, over the engine 
house in South Second-street for about two years, with 
little visible increase, which finally resulted in the building 
of St. Mark's Church. The Baptists held service for a 
long time in the same place ; they now own the beautiful 
edifice in South Fifth. From a small congregation who 
met for a length of time in the Odd Fellows' Hall, sprang 
the tasteful Presbyterian church in South Third, and more 
recently, the fine and well-proportioned edifice in South 
Fourth. Others, equally beautiful, rapidly rose after it was 
ascertained that such a thing as a church could actually 
be built in Williamsburgh. We may now question 
whether Brooklyn, in proportion to populousness, has the 
right to be named, ^;a/ excellence, " the city of churches." 

" The establishment of Peck Slip Ferry was an era of 
vast importance. The first meeting for that purpose was 
attended by about fifty persons at the North American 
Hotel. After a hard struggle it was finally carried against 
a stout opposition by our rich, overbearing, overgrown, 
ugly neighbor, New York, there being, if memory serves, 
a majority of one in the Board of Aldermen, and thi'ee in 
the Assistants. From the sparse population, expensive 
scale, and the great financial revulsion of 1S37, the ferry, 
in vulgar phrase, " bursted up," in about eighteen months ; 



22 HISTORY OF 

and although the lease was turned over to a second party, 
it was only to drag out a miserable existence. Some 
can well remember how, for many months, they were 
obliged to cross the Grand-street Ferry and take a long and 
weary walk to the lower part of New York, or pass round 
to Brooklyn. Truly, those were trying times. The 
Grand-street Ferry, with its queer, old, rotten double boats, 
so extremely uncomfortable and dangerous, was for a long 
time the common subject of mad denunciation and merry 
satire. The village paper in those palmy days was filled 
with poetic missives and " prose run mad." 

"It is but just to say that the same rhymes were 
applied to Fulton and Peck Slip Ferries, where the 
condition was almost as bad. Times have changed. Yet 
there is room for improvement. 

" By far the most interesting historical feature of 
Williamsburgh, is from its proximity to the Wallabout, 
the thrilling scene of the famous prison ships. On the 
Williamsburgh bank, opposite the residence of the late B. 
Boerum, were buried a large number of those unfortunate 
young men, who miserably perished in those "ships of 
death." The venerable Gen. Johnson told the writer of 
this that he had often passed along the beach after a north- 
easterly storm, and skulls might be seen as numerous as 
pumpkins in a field. He had examined the teeth of 
many, and almost all were young men." 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 23 



CHAPTER III. 

FIRST VILLAGE CHARTER. 

The village of Williamsburgh was commenced about 
forty years ago by a few enterprising and spirited indi- 
viduals, but its increase was very slow and unpromising, 
until after the Grand-street Ferry was started, which gave 
a new impulse to the place. Where are now wide, well- 
regulated and handsome streets, thickly studded with 
elegant buildings, were then fields, orchards and gardens. 

The first act of incorporation was obtained, April 14th, 
1827, which proved a new era in the prosperity of 
"Williamsburgh. The territory embraced in the first act 
is thus set forth, " Beginning at the bay or river, opposite 
to the Town of Brooklyn, and running thence to easterly 
along the division line between the Towns of Bushwick 
and Brooklyn, to the lands of Abraham A. Hemsen ; 
thence northerly by the bame to a road or highway at a 
place called Sweed's Fly, thence by the said highway to 
the dwelling house, late of John Yandervoort deceased : 
thence in a straight line northerly, to a small ditch or 
creek against the meadow of John Skillman ; thence by 
said creek to Norman's Kill ; thence by the middle or 
centre of Norman's Kill to the East River ; thence by the 
same, to the place of beginning." 



SECOND VILLAGE CHARTER. 

The present territory becoming too circumscribed for 
the demands of the increasing population. " An Act to 
extend the limits of Williamsburgh was obtained, April 
I8th, 1835, and also one authorising certain persons to 
erect, and maintain docks, in the village cf Williams- 
burgh, was passed on the twenty-second of the same 
month. We here give a copy of both, believing they will 
be interesting to many of our readers. 

" An Act to amend the act entitled " An Act to incor- 



24 HISTORY OF 



porate and vest certain powers in the Freeholders and 
Inhabitants of the village of Williamsburgh in the County 
of Kings," passed April U, 1827, passed April 18, 1835. 
The people of the state of New York represented in 
Senate and Assembly do enact as follows : 

Sec. 1. The section of the Town of Bushwick contained 
within the following limits, viz : beginning at the south- 
eastern corner of the present village of Williamsburgh, 
running thence south-easterly along the line that divides 
the town of Bushwick and the city of Brooklyn, to a 
turnpike road, leading from Brooklyn to Newtown and 
Flushing, at a point near and south-westerly of the house 
of Chas° DeBevoise ; running thence along the- said road 
north-easterly to the Cross Roads ; thence northerly along 
the road leading to the Bushwick Church, to the "Wil- 
liamsburgh and Jamaica Turnpike ; thence northerly 
along the road passing the church and leading to Newtown 
bridge, about twelve hundred feet to an abrupt angle in 
said road turning to the east, thence westerly along about 
eighteen hundred feet, until it intersects the head of navi- 
gation of a branch of Bushwick Creek, thence westerly 
along said branch creek according to its meanderings to 
the main creek which is the present boundary of the said 
village of Williamsburgh, thence southerly along the 
eastern boundary line of the said village of Williams- 
burgh to the place of beginning shall hereafter be added 
to, and form a part of the village of Williamsburgh. And 
the said territory and the inhabitants residing therein shall 
be subject to all the provisions of this act, and of the act 
hereby amended ; and the Trustees of said village are to 
have the same jurisdiction, and exercise the same powers 
over the said territory and inhabitants as they now have 
and exercise, under this act hereby amended over the 
present territory of said village ; Provided that a piece of 
land occupied by the Dutch Reformed Church for public 
worship, and a burying ground known by the name of the 
Bushwick Church, shall be excepted and excluded from 
the limits of the said village of Williamsburgh, and the 
same shall continue to form a part of the said town of 
"^^n.shwick. 



WILLL\MSBURGH. 25 

§ 2. Nicholas Wyckoff, of Glueens County, David 
Johnson of Kings County, and Peter Stagg, Robert 
Ainslie and John Leonard, of the City of New York, are 
hereby appointed commissioners to designate and perma- 
nently locate all the streets and roads to be hereafter laid 
out by the Trustees of said village, within the limits of 
the territory by this act added to said village bounds ; and 
it is hereby made the duty of the said commissioners to 
cause within four months from the passage of this act a 
survey to be made of said additional territory, together 
with two maps thereof, exhibiting all the streets and roads 
decided upon by them, and after signing said maps shall 
cause one of them to be filed with the Clerk of the 
County of Kings. 

^ 3. A majority of the commissioners hereby appointed 
shall be competent to perform the duties hereby required, 
and upon the filing of said maps, as hereinbefore directed, 
it is hereby declared that the streets and roads designated 
thereon shall form the permanent plan for opening and 
laying out streets in that portion of the said village. 

§ 4. All the expenses incurred in making said survey 
and maps, together with a reasonable compensation to said 
commissioners for their services, shall be a charge upon 
the said village, and be paid by the Trustees thereof. 

§ 5. The Trustees and the other officers of said village, 
shall hereafter be elected on the second Tuesday of April 
in each year, and the next election shall be held on the 
second Tuesday of April in the year one thousand eight 
hundred and thirty-six, until which time the present 
Trustees shall hold their offices. At the said election 
nine Trustees shall be chosen, which number shall there- 
after constitute the Board of Trustees ; said Trustees are 
to be qualified in the same manner, and when chosen, 
shall possess the several powers and rights now vested in 
the Trustees of said village. 

§ 6. The Trustees of said village shall once in each 
year, designate one or more newspapers printed in the 
County of Kings in which all notices required to be given 
by the act hereby amended, shall hereafter be published. 

^ 7. The Trustees of said village shall have power to 
3 



26 HISTORY OF 

appoint such number of marshals, not exceeding three, 
whose duty it shall be to aid the President and Magistrates 
of said village in preserving the public peace. Said 
marshals to have poM-er only to serve all criminal process, 
and to hold their offices for one year. Their appointment 
shall be signified by a vv^arrant under the corporate seal 
signed by the President and Clerk of said village. 

§ 8. The Trustees and officers of said village shall hold 
their office until others are regularly elected or appointed, 
and have taken the requisite oath of office. 

^ 9 The Trustees of said village shall have power to 
call meetings of Freeholders and taxable inhabitants of 
said village, at such time and place as they may think 
proper, by giving eight days notice thereof; and it shall 
be lawful for a majority of the taxable inhabitants present 
at such meeting, to direct a sum to be raised for purchas- 
ing a lot or lots of land in said village (the title of the 
same to be taken in the name of the Trustees of the 
village of Williamsburgh), and of erecting thereon any 
public buildings which may be required for the said 
village, or for purchasing or hiring a lot or lots of land as 
aforesaid with a building or buildings already erected 
thereon to be appropriated to the same purposes : which 
sum so directed to be raised, shall be assessed, levied and 
collected in the same manner as other monies are assessed, 
levied and collected in the said village for the general 
village purposes ; and when so collected the same shall be 
paid into the village treasury. 

§ 10. This act shall take effect from the passage thereof. 
§ 1 1. The Legislature may at any time hereafter, alter, 
modify, and amend or repeal this act, or the act hereby 
amended. 



STATE OF NEW YOPtK, 

tSecretanfs Office 
I have compared the preceding with an original act of 
the Legislature of this State, on file in this Office, and do 
certify that the same is a correct transcript therefrom and 
of the whole of said original. 

AECHIBALD CAMPBELL, 
Albany, April, 18th, 1835. Deimty Secretary. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 27 

CHARTER FOR DOCKS. 

An Act authorising certain persons to erect and main- 
tain Docks in the village of Williamsburgh, County of 
King:.. Passed, April 22d, 1835. 

The people of the State of New- York, represented in. 
Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 

Section 1 . It shall be lawful for John Lorimer Graham, 
John Devoe, Peter Ferrier, John Downs, Reuben Withers, 
Daniel Jackson, Ellis Potter, John Miller, John Morrell, 
Lewis Sandford, Peter Wyckoff, John C. Halsey, William 
Lake, Thos. Lake, Richard Lake, James Guild, Silas 
Butler, Chas. 0. Handy, WiUiam Sinclair, Charles Dick- 
inson, James B. Taylor, Joshua Webb, John S. McKibbin, 
and Thomas Nicholls, respectively and their respective 
heirs and assigns, to erect, fill in, keep and maintain a 
Bulkhead, Docks, and Wharves, adjacent to the lands 
owned by them, or any or either of them, jointly or seve- 
rally in said village of Williamsburgh, lying in the East 
River, and extending into said East River to a line desig- 
nated upon a map of said river, m.arked, " Drawn Feb- 
ruary 1835, by D. Ewen, City Surveyor, New- York," as 
the permanent water line of said village, along the whole 
front of their joint or respective pieces of land ; said 
bulkheads, docks, and wharves, to be made firm and 
secure. 

§ 2. The said owners and their respective heirs and 
assigns, shall respectively be entitled to ask, demand, sue 
for, and receive reasonable wharfage, dockage and 
cranage, from persons using the same, but the Legislature 
may, at any time, hereafter, regulate the rates of wharf- 
age, dockage, and cranage, to be received by the said 
owners, respectively, in such manner, as shall be deemed 
just and reasonable, 

§ 3. This Act shall not be construed to interfere with 
the rights of the Corporation of the city of New York. 

§ 4. It shall be the duty of said owners to cause the 
said map of the East River, made by Daniel Ewen, City 
Surve3^or, and upon which is designated particularly the 
land belonging to said owners respectively, to be filed 
v/ithin thirty days after the passage of this Act, with the 



28 HISTORY OF 

Comnjissioners of the Land Office of the County of Kings, 
and another copy thereof, with the Clerk of the said 
village of Williamsburgh. 

^ 5. The outer water line marked upon said map shall 
be the permanent water line in front of said village, shall 
be made to conform to said outer water line, as marked 
upon said map. 

§ 6. The Legislature may at any time alter or amend 
this Act. 



STATE OF NEW YORK, ) 

iSecretary's Office. j 

I have compared the preceding with an original act of 
the Legislature of this State, on lile in this Office, and do 
certify that the same is a correct transcript therefrom and 
of the whole of said original. 

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, 

Deputy Secretary. 
Albany, April 22d, 1835. 



To publish the full lists of all the village officers for 
each year, would not only occupy too much space in the 
limit of this work, but would be uninteresting to our 
readers. We shall therefore content ourselves with giving 
the names of the principal officers, viz : the Boards of 
Trustees. 

The first Board of Trustees was as follows : 

Trmtees.—IQ21 . 
N. Waterbury, President, Lewis Sanford, Treasurer, 
Abm. Meserole, Sec. J. BiTish, Collector. 

Peter C. Cornell. D. S. Griswold, Counsel and 

Thos. T. Morrell, Clerk. 

John Miller, D. R. Dunham, Clerk. 

Trustees— \S2Q. 
J. M. Halsey, President. Samuel D. Mills, 
John Henry, W. C. Townsend, Clerk. 

John Luther, Abm. Meserole, Treas. 

James Ainslie James Brush, Collector. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 29 

Trustees— \S2^ . 

Jas. M. Halsey, President. John Devoe, 

John Luther, p. 0. Cornell, Clerk. 

John Henry, Riley Clark, Treas. 

John Morrell, James Brush, Collector. 

Trustees — 1830. 

Edmund Frost, President. James Ainslie, 

Lemuel Richardson, Peter Way, Clerk. 

John Eddy, John Luther, Treas. 

Jacob Berry, p. p. Schenck, Collector. 

Trustees— IS'il. 
Edmund Frost, President. James Ainslie, 
Lemuel Richardson, Chas. H. Davis, Clerk. 

Geo. W. Pitman. John Luther, Treas. 

Samuel D. Mills, P. p. Schenck, Collector. 

Trustees— IQ^2. 
Jas. M. Halsey, President. Schenck Way, Clerk. 
John Luther, W. J. Fish, Clerk, part of 

John Henry, year. 

John Morrell, Jacob Berry, Treas. 

Kichard Churchward, 

Trustees — 1833. 
Edmund Frost, President. William Leaycraft, 
Lemuel Richardson, Schenck Way, Clerk, 

James Ainslie, J. L. Graham, Counsel. 

John Morrell, Jacob Berry, Treasurer. 

Trustees— \SM. 
Edmund Frost, President. John Eddy, 
Lemuel Richardson, Schenck Way, Clerk. 

William Leaycraft, J. L. Graham, Counsel. 

John Luther, L. Sanford, Collector. 

Note..— In 1835 the Charter was amended, giving to 
the Village nine Trustees, and changing the day of elec- 
tion from the First Monday in November, to the Second 
Tuesday in April. Also, adding to the village, that part 
now known as the Third District. 
3# 



/ 



30 HISTORY OF 

Trwsfees— 1836. 

Wm. Leaycraft, President, Henry Cooke, 

Daniel Wood, James Guild, 

Edwin Ferry, T. B. Clarke, 

Alfred Hodges, Schenck Way, Clerk, 

R, B. Dikeman, Rich. Leaycraft, Treas. 

James Ainslie, Alanson Ackerly, Collector. 

Trustees— ISZl . 
Edmund Frost, President, Henry Cooke, 
John Morrell, Hiram Ross, 

John Skillman, Wm. Leaycraft, 

Abm. Meserole, Schenck Way, Clerk, 

John Snyder, Joseph Conselyea, Treas. 

Lemuel Richardson, Alanson Ackerly, Collector. 

Edward Sanford, Counsel. 

TrustetS'-\S'2>S. 
Edmund Frost, President, David Garrett, 
John Skillman, C. L. Cooke, 

John C. Minturn, William Wheaton, 

Henry Cook, Schenck Way, Clerk. 

John Wright, Joseph Conselyea, Treas. 

John Snyder, Alanson Ackerly, Collector, 

Edward Sanford, Counsel. 

Trustees— \S^^ 

J. C. Minturn,=^ President. J. J. Bennett,*!! 

John Skillman,* Jacob Backus, § 

C. L. Cooke,t / Jas. D Sparkman,§ 

David Garrett,-/ Alanson Ackerly,^ 

Henry Meiggs,t William Golder,'ir 

John Cook, Samuel Cox,^ 

Thos. J. Fenwick,* Henry Payson, Clerk. 

Eusebius Hopkins,* John Titus, Treasurer. 

William Frisby, Hiram Ross, Collector. 

* Resigned before term expired, f Refused to serve. \ Pres- 
ident pro tern. || Elected at special election. August 8, 1839. 
§ Elected at special election, October, 24, 1839. ^Elected 
at special election, August 15, 1839. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 31 

Trustees— 184:0 
Henry Meiggs, John Skillman,t 

William Lake,$ John Cooke, § 

William Golder,* - L. D. Cuddy,^ 

D. W. VanCott,^|| Eusebius Hopkins,^ 

Hiram Ross, G. Van Ness, t§ 

A. J. Conselyea,=^ Henry Payson, Clerk. 

Edward Neville,^ W. Conselyea, Jr., Treas. 

John Titus,=^ Alex. S. Tuttle, Col. 

^Resigned before term expired, f Refused to serve. $ Pres- 
ident pro tern. || President at organization. ^ Elected at 
special election^ July 15, 1840. 

Trustees— 184:1 
John C. Minturn, President. George Doyle, 
A. B. YanCott, Richard Berry, 

J, F. Cropsey,t Henry Meiggs, 

James Fiora, Edmund Frost, J 

L. D. Cuddy, Noah Waterbury, 

Wm. Richardson, Henry Payson, Clerk. 

P. V. Remsen, W. Conselyea, Jr., Treas. 

W. D. Lowerre, Collector, 
t Refused to serve. | Deceased. 

Trustees— } 84:2 
John C. Minturn, D. D. Winant, 

L. D. Cuddy, Marvin W. Fox, 

Lemuel Richardson, Nathaniel Willett, 

Peter V. Remsen, Henry Payson, Clerk. 

James Noble, Jas. N. Engle, Treas. 

Robert Sealy, W. D. Lowerre, Collector. 

No Counsel elected in 1841 or '42 ; A. D. Soper, Esq., 
acted. 

Trustees— 1843. ^ 

John C. Minturn, President. David Garret, «!^ 
Lemuel Richardson, Eusebius Hopkins, 

Peter V. Remsen, William D. Lowerre, 

M. W. Fox, Henry Payson, Clerk. 

D. D. Winant, Richard Berry, Treas, 

William Lake, Jeremiah Meserole, Col. 



32 HISTORY OP 

Trustees-^ISU. 
N. Waterbury, President. A. P. Cumings, 
B. N. Disbrow, Grahams Polley, 

Eobert Sealy, Alfred Curtis, 

J. A. Burdettj Henry Payson, Clerk. 

Timothy Coffin, B. S. K. Richardson, Treas. 

Isaac Sherwood, W. S. Wiggins, Col. 

Paul J. Fish, Counsel. 
]^0TE. — In 1844 the Village Charter, amended and 
revised, was adopted, under which three Trustees and one 
Collector were chosen for each of the Districts. 

Trtistees— 184:5. 
Timothy Coffin, President. James M. Aymar, 
T. J. VanSant, Henry Payson Clerk. 

Jonathan Odell, B. S. K, Uichardson, Treas. 

Grrahams Polley, C. Daniels, 

James Dobbins, R. Walsh, f p^n'x 

John Hanford, G. W. Baker,=^ ^ '-on tors. 

David Lindsay, I. Henderson, 

Isaiah Pitman, P. J. Fish, Counsel. 

^Declined serving. 

Trustees— 184:6. 

David Lindsay, President. James Roper, 
William Wall, J. J. Snyder, Clerk. 

Timothy Coffin, B. S. K. Richard&on, Treas. 

Thomas J. Van Sant, L. Darbee, J 

John H?aiford, R. Walsh, V Collectors. 

Eusebius Hopldns, J. Henderson, ) 

James W. Stearns, H. H Stuart, Counsel. 

James M. Aymar, J. Gluin, Street Inspector. 

Trustees— 18i7 . 
Timothy Coffin, President. John H. Gaus, 
William Wall, Charles W. Houghton, 

Thomas J. VanSant, Geo, E. Baker, Clerk. 

WilHam Lake, L. W. Ufford, Treasurer. 

James Gallaudett, W. H. Colyer, ) 

Henry Aldworth, Richard Walsh, > Coll' tors, 

Stephen Waterman, S. B. Terry, ) 

D. Chichester, Street and Well and Pump Inspector. 
No Attorney or Counsel chosen. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 



33 



Trustees— \S^S. 



Noali Waterbury 
Wm. Wall, 
Stephen Waterman, 
W. H. Sweze3% 
John S. Trott,jr., 
A. D. Soper, 
Henry McCaddin, 

Geo 



President. John. H. Gaus, 
Abel Smith, 
George Joy, 
Wm. H. Colyer, ) 
Richard Walsh [ Collect' rs. 
Stephen Ryder. ) 
Levi W. Ufford, Treas. 
E. Baker, Clerk. 



Trustees— XS'i^ . 



Timothy Coffin, President. 
Samuel M. Meeker, 
Wm. Bunting, 
Francis V. Morrell, 
John S. Trott, Jr., 
Andrew B. Hodges, 
Henry McCaddin, 

George E. 



Chas W. Houghton, 

Anthony Walter, 
Oliver Leach, 
Henry E. Ripley, J 
Richard Walsh, j- CoU'tors. 
Stephen Ryder, ) 
Henry Payson, Treas. 
Baker, Clerk. 



Trustees— \Q5{) . 
Edmund Driggs, President, Chas. W. Houghton, 



D. D. Winant, 
Samuel Groves, 
Horatio N. Fryatt, 
Chauncey A. Lay, 
Daniel Reilly, 
Harris Comstock, 



Thos. Greene, 
Henry Oltmans, 
Henry E. Ripley, \ 
James Murphy, > Col' tors. 
John W. Braisted, ) 
Henry Payson, Treas. 
John Broach, Clerk. 
Trustees — 1851. 



CoU'tors. 



D. D. Winant, President. 
Wm. T. Leitch, 
Daniel Barker, 
Alexander Hamilton, 
Daniel Reilly, 
Harris Comstock, 
James Salters, 

John Broach, Clerk, 
The City Charter was drawn up by Mr. S. M. Meeker, 
Village Counsellor, and passed, April 1S51, 



Fordyce Sylvester; 
David Lindsay, 
John Maerz, 
Ben. N. Disbrow, 
James Murphy, 
Henry Cornwell, 
Wm. H. Colyer, Treas 



64: HISTORY OF 

The election for city officers came off in November 
1851. The query, who should have the honor of becom- 
ing the first city rulers, and shaping the mind of the 
infant city, created much interest and rivalry. The honor 
of Mayor, fell upon Dr. A. J. Berry, by a large majority 
of votes, and certainly we know of no gentleman more 
competent for the responsible office. His gentlemanly 
bearing, courteous and affable manners, liberal education, 
personal knowledge of all local afiairs for many years 
past, and political experience, render him, eminently and 
emphatically, the one on whom should devolve the first 
Mayoralty of the city of Williamsburgh. For the full 
list of city officers see Directory for 1852 '3. 

The City Charter went into effect Jan. 1, 1852, when 
the old village officers, retired from their public capacity, 
and the newly elected city officers took their seats, with 
all their new honors and new responsibilities. 

It is an unquestionable fact, that the Mayor and Alder- 
men of Williamsburgh, have greater responsibilities, 
more intricate business to perform, and more perplexing 
duties to fulfil, than the Common Council of Brooklyn, or 
even of New York. For, as the construction, and nice 
adjustment of the various parts of an elaborate piece of 
machinery, require more skilful management, and scien- 
tific calculations, than the application of that machinery 
after its perfect construction, so in like manner, does the 
new city organization, in all its departments and ramifica- 
tions, require much more sound judgment and judicious 
management, than the government of a much more popu- 
lous city, when experience had stamped her seal of 
approval on the various parts of its organization. 



WILLI AMSBURGH. 35 

CHAPTER IV. 

CHURCHES. 

A^liatever may be the- comparative vices and faults of 
Williamsburgh, she cannot be accused of infidelity, or even 
of indifierence, 'in matters of Religion. Her numerous 
Church edifices and rising spires, which point to a more 
promising and exalted city, indicate her knowledge of, and 
reverence for, that ''revealed Charter,''' which makes 
"free the consciences of men." 

In Williamsburgh and Bushwick, there are thirty-two 
churches, and thirty church edifices. In Williamsburgh 
alone, there are twenty-four churches, and twenty-three 
church edifices, if we include Christ Church, N. B., whose 
congregation is almost exclusively composed of our own 
citizens. Many of the edifices are not only spacious and 
comfortable, but rich in architectural embellishment and 
worthy of the cause to which they are dedicated. 

It was not our intention to give statistics of the 
Bushwick Churches, or even to introduce a mention of 
them in the limits of this work ; yet, we think a brief 
sketch of the history of the first Bushwick Church, will 
be a matter of interest to many of our readers ; and as 
Williamsburgh for so long a period, formed part of Bush- 
wick, it may be deemed proper to commence with this, 
the first Church. 

When Gov. Stuyvesant surrendered the Province of 
New Amsterdam, (New York,) to the English in 1664, it 
was provided by the 8th Article of the capitulation, that 
"the Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their con- 
sciences in Divine worship and Church discipline." How 
well the letter and spirit of this article was kept, our 
esteemed friend. Gen. Johnson, in the following transla- 
tion of some of the records of this town, shall answer. 
The translator informs us, that Gov. Nicoll, the first 
English governor, communicated with Bushwick from 



36 HISTORY OF 

Fort James, October 17, 1665, informing them (the 
inhabitants of Bushwick) that they must unite with the 
neighboring towns in forming a ministry, and must jointly 
contribute for that purpose. The odiousness of the fol- 
lowing proceedings by Gov. Nicoll, will be very obvious 
when our readers are informed, that until the Dutch 
Church was built in Bushwick, the people of the town 
were connected with the Church at Brooklyn, and the 
translator adds, that, "the governor knew it." 

It appears that this state of things existed until, the 
Colony was retaken by the Dutch, in 1673. We now 
submit a few extracts of his translations. 

" Beloved and Honorable Good Friends : 

" Before this time, our order has been made 
known to you, that the honorable ministers of this place, 
in turn, will preach to your people until you are able to 
maintain a minister yourselves. By our order, presented 
to you, you were required to raise the sum of one hundred 
and seventy-five guilders, =* as your proportion of the 
salary ; but in consideration of the trouble in your town, 
we have deemed it proper, under present circumstances, to 
reduce the sum of one hundred and seventy-five guilders, 
to the sum of one hundred guilders, which we deem 
reasonable, and against which no reasonable complaint 
can exist, and ought to be satisfactory ; which last sum 
we demand for the minister's salary ; therefore, we expect 
that measures will be adopted to collect the same, 
promptly, pursuant to this order ; and to ensure the same, 
we have deemed it proper to appoint Everet Hedeman and 
Peter Jansen Dewit, giving them full power and authority 
to assess and collect that sum, having regard to the condi- 
tion and circumstances of the people, and to decide what 
each of them shall pay, which the said persons shall 
collect, or cause to be collected, that is, one hundred 
guilders in three instalments, and pay the same over to 
us ; the first on the last day of December next ; the 
second, on the first day of April next, and the third, ou 



* A Guilder in value is thirty-eight cents. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 37 

the last day of August, next ensuing. Whereupon we 
remain your friend, greeting, 

'^ RICHAUD NICOLL. 
" This will be delivered to Everet Hedeman and Peter 
Jansen Dewit, and read to the congregation. 

R.N. 
Fort James, December 26th, 1665." 

Anno 1665, the 27th of December, the minister preached 
his first sermon at the house of Giesbert Tonissen, who 
was sent to preach by the Hon. Gov. Richard Nicoll." 

" To the Inhabitants of Bushivick : 

Beloved Friends. — I am authorized by the Gov- 
ernor, to receive the salarj'' of the minister, being one 
hundred guilders, which is due and now collecting in your 
town, pursuant to order, which I am to pay over to the 
requiring minister. Your friend, greeting, 

C. V.RUYVEN. 

New-York, January 5, 1666." 

"Anno 1666, January 13, 0. S. The persons named 
below, have been obliged to pay to Everet Hedeman and 
Peter Jansen Dewit, (compelled collectors,) for the minis- 
ter's salary, the sums opposite to their respective names, 
which was assessed upon their sowed lands." Here the 
translator records the names of twenty-six persons who 
were assessed for the first minister's salary. 

The first church was erected in this town about the 
beginning of the eighteenth century. It was in octagon 
form, with pointed roof, and surmounted with cupola. 
The precise date of its erection is not known, but from a 
receipt, still preserved, for a church bell, which bears date 
1711, we presume that the building was erected but a 
short time prior to this date. ^ There being no pews in 
the church, the congregations procured their own seats, 
which were usually benches or chairs. Between 1700 and 
1706, the building underwent a thorough renovation; a 
new roof was built, a gallery added, and the church 
furnished with pews. This, the first church built in 



* Vide Prime's History. 
4 



38 HISTORY OF 

Bush wick, was pulled down in 1829, and the present edi- 
fice erected in the same year. 

The first pastors of this church were Messrs. Freman, 
Antonides, Lowe and Schoonmaker, who had the pastoral 
charge from 1709 to 1811, at which latter date, the Rev. 
John Basset, D. D., was installed pastor In June, 1824, 
he was suspended from the ministry for intemperance, and 
died the next year. 

The present incumbent, the R.ev. S. H. Meeker, was 
ordained pastor of this church, February 27th, 1826. 
After four years labor, he resigned his charge, and 
officiated . for a few months in Jersey City. He was, 
however, within a year from his resignation, recalled, and 
again assumed the charge of the congregation, where he 
still, with much fidelity, continues his labors. We believe 
the present number of communicants at this church, is 
over two hundred. 

First MetJiodist Episcopal Church. — The first eccle- 
siastical organization in "VYilliamsburgh, was formed about 
the beginning of the present century. Their first house of 
worship w^as erected in 1808, on North Second street, 
between Fourth and Fifth. The society having become 
too large for their building, the foundation of a spacious 
brick church was laid in 1837, in South Second street, 
between Fifth and Sixth streets. The church was here 
organized in 1838. The first Trustees were, David 
Garret, Henry E. Bodwell, George W. Pitman, John L. 
Gray, Simon Richardson, and James D. Sparkman. 
Steivarch — (probably,) Henry E. Bodwell, Robert Mar- 
shal, James JNToble, Wm. T. Hendrickson and John B. 
Keys. The Preachers, in 1838, were Richard Seaman 
and James Rawson ; in 1839, William Thatcher and 
James Rawson. (The deed obtained in 1838. The 
church edifice erected in 1839.) The Rev. Daniel Os- 
TRANDER, Presiding Elder. 

The number of communicants at that time is supposed 
to have been about 50 ; the progress of the church so 
increasing, that three churches have colonized from it, 
which are in a prosperous condition, while the original 
congregation usually fills the edifice. Present number of 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 39 

communicants, about 380 ; average Sunday A.M. congre- 
gation, about 700. 

Officers, 1851. — Trustees — Edmund Driggs, Timothy 
Coffin, Samuel Cox, Ensign Driggs, Edward Killington, 
John Delaplaine, Francis A. Casilear, Frederick Dobbs, 
and William J. Pease. 

Stevjards — Samuel Cox, George Higgins, James W. 
Tice, Francis A. Casilear, Joseph H. Yandewater, Daniel 
Powell, and Wm. J. Pease. Z,e<ic?ers-— Edward Killing- 
ton, George Higgins, Samuel Cox, Timothy Coffin, Ensign 
Driggs, Edmund Driggs, Wm. H. Butler, Wm. Crissy, 
Valentine Flaglor, and William J. Pease. Local Preach- 
ers. Joseph Hodgson, William Lee. Pastor, Rev. W. F. 
Collins. Presiding Elder, Rev. Laban Clarke. 

Average attendance of Sunday School, 381. Super- 
intendent, Samuel Cox. Assista?U &uperi7itendents, 
William Crissy and Lavinia Giles. Secretaries, Joseph 
Ford and Francis A. Duncan. Librarians, Charles W. 
Cheshire and William E. Duncan. 

The second ecclesiastical organization was the Reformed 
Protestant Dutch Church.— -The Reformed Protestant 
Dutch Church of Williamsburgh, located corner of Fourth 
and South Second streets, was organized in 1828, by the 
ordination of Peter Wyckoff and Peter Meserole as Elders, 
and Abraham Boerum and Abraham Meserole as Deacons. 
The precise number of communicants at the date of the 
organization is not known. It was, however, small, being 
composed chiefly of those who had hitherto been connected 
with the Reformed Dutch Church of Bush wick. The 
edifice in which the new church worshipped, was com- 
pleted in 1828, and was speedily occupied by the increas- 
ing population of the village. As that population 
multiplied in numbers and in wanfs, new organizations 
succeeded, each of which reduced for a time the original 
congregation of this Church. The Rev. James Demarest, 
M. D., was the first pastor ; he labored here about ten 
years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. H. Yan Doren, 
who continued Pastor for about an equal period. In 1848, 
the church edifice was enlarged, modernized, and Iho- 
rouguly renovated; and in the autumn of 1849, Rev. E, 



40 HISTORY OF 

S. Porter, the present pastor, was invited to take charge of 
this Church. 

The number of commmiioants in 1851, was about 165 
— the average attendance on Sabbath, 450. 

The officers, 1851, were Henry McKinstry, Samuel 
Groves, William Ferris, and Davis Johnson, Elders; J. 
S. Burr, A. S. Ely, Robert Smith and William Meserole, 
Deacons. 

Owing to the increasing wants of the congregation, 
additional pews have lately been placed within the 
building. 

The number of Sabbath School scholars, is 130. The 
school has a large library, to which $90 worth of new 
books has been recently added. Wm. Ferris is Superin- 
tendent, aided by an efficient corps of teachers. 

The third ecclesiastical organization was the Methodist 
Protestant Church — This Church, which is located in 
Grand street, near Fifth, was organized in 1832, by a 
.secession of about thirty-five members from the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. A small, but comfortable edifice was 
erected in the same year, which was rebuilt of brick in 
1850. First Board of Trustees, Frederick Dickerman, 
John Snyder, Benjamin Doxey, Peter Merrit and Stephen 
Baker. The number of communicants at the time of 
organization, was 20 ; the recent number, 72. Average 
of Sunday congregation, about 250. Trustees, 1851, 
David C. Jordon, sen., David C. Jordon, jr., John Snyder, 
Pierre A. Decevee, George Miller, William Ackerly, 
William Doxey, George Mannering, Joseph Dickerman. 
The Sunday School numbers 94 ; P. A. Decevee, Super- 
intendent. William H. Johnson, Pastor. 

St. Mark's Clmrch. — Located corner of Fourth and 
South Fifth streets.* This is the oldest Episcopal parish in 
Williamsburgh. The congregation was formed under the 
labors of the Rev. Wm. Morris, present Rector of Trinity 
School, New York. There were at that time about four 
communicants. The parish was- duly organized and 
received into the Convention, in the year 1837. The Rev. 
Mr. M. officiated until Easter, 1848, when, after eighteen 
months of faithful missionary labor, without stipend, he 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 41 

resigned, in order that the parish might obtain the services 
of a clergyman who could reside among them. The R.ev. 
Samuel O. Davis was then called to the Rectorship. At 
this time there were twelve communicants. During his 
ministry, a brick chapel was erected in the rear of the 
present church. In the following year, the Rev. Mr. D. 
resigned, and in October 1839, the present incumbent, the 
Rev. S. M. Haskins, was called to the Rectorship. At 
this time there were about eighteen communicants, and a 
Sunday School of thirty scholars and six teachers. During 
the ministry of the present Rector, a stone church has 
been erected, and the congregation has steadily increased. 
There were in 1851 about 175 communicants. The 
Sunday School numbers about 120 scholars and 13 
teachers, of which the Rector is Superintendent 

Officers of the Church, 1851 : Rector, S. M. Haskins ; 
Wardens, Ephraim Cooke, Octavius Long worth ; Vestry- 
men, J. M. Matthews, T. A. Demill, T. Irwin, H. N. 
Fryatt, Wm. L. Haskins, D. Longworth, 0. Hutchinson, 
Floyd Smith, Jr. 

The First Baptist Church. — This Church was con- 
stituted April 14, 1839, under the name of the " Wil- 
liamsburgh Bethel Independent Baptist Church." The 
name was changed May 11, 1846, to the "First Baptist 
Church of Willi amsburgh." The place of worship -is 
located on the south-east corner of Fifth and South Fiftli 
streets. It is a Gothic edifice, with two spires, Tlie walls 
are brick, covered with mastic, in imitation of browiL 
stone. It is neatly and handsomely finished, both on the 
exterior and in the interior, and will accommodate a con- 
gregation of 800 to 900. 

It was constituted with fourteen members. Rev. John 
Jones was the first Pastor; David K Stevens, Deacon; 
Robert Fisher and John Cheeney, Trustees : and John R. 
Adams, Clerk. During the first three years of its 
history, the progress of the church was very slow, and it 
was difficult to sustain the interest. Since then it has 
been steadily increasing. 

The changes of Pastors have been as follows : Rev, 
John Jones, from April 18, 1839, to November 19, 1839; 
#4 



42 



HISTORY OF 



Rev. C. F. Frey, from May 13, 1840, to March 20, 1841 ; 
E.ev. L. Muzzy, from September 12, 1841, to November 
8, 1843; Rev. Theophilus Jones officiated from December 
13, 1843, to March 26, 1844; Rev. Alanson P. Mason, 
from May 19, 1844, to November 1, 1849 ; Rev. Morgan 
J. Rhees, commenced July 1850. John Wester velt, 
Clerk. 

The number of members, April 1st, 185J, was 27G, and 
the average congregation on the Sabbath, is between 500 
and 600. The officers of the church are. Rev. Morgan 
J. RiiEEs, Fastor ; Frederick D. Tucker, William M. 
McCutchen, H'y P. Freeman, JohnB. Coleman, Deacons ; 
Charles W. Houghton, Henry P. Freeman, Richard J. 
Bradford, George I3ryant, Benjamin T. Jessup, Thomas J. 
Van Sant, John B. Coleman, Trustees. 

The average attendance at the Sabbath School is about 
200 scholars ; Henry P. Freeman, Superintendent ; John 
Westervelt, Assistant Suiyerinte7ident ; Joseph H. Adams, 
Secretary; Wilham G. McCutchen, John E. Rhees, 
Librarian. 

Holy Trinity Church (R. C.) — This church was built 
in Montrose avenue, near Ewen street, for the German 
Catholics in the "-Dutch Village,'" of whom there is a 
large population, and was organized in July 1841. The 
number of communicants at that time was about 200, 
which number has increased to 6000. The Sunday 
School numbers about 200 scholars. The Sunday morning 
congregations — which meet for two services every Sunday 
morning — each average about 900. Two hundred and 
fifty were baptized the past year, and fifty-four married. 
John Raffeiner, Priest. 

The First Fresbyterian Church, in South Fourth 
street, corner of Sixth. — This church was organized in 
May 1842, and consisted of fifteen members. It was, as 
its name imports, the first Presbyterian church established 
in this city, and has received since its organization, two 
hundred and eighty-two members. 

There are two Sabbath Schools connected with the 
:church — one, which is under the superintendence of 
George W. Edwards, and meets in the room over the 



WILLIAMSBURGH, 43 

Lecture Room of the Church — the other, which is under 
the care of John Horn, and. meets in a school room in 
North Third street, near Second. 

Services are held in the church on the Sabbath, in the 
morning, afternoon, and evening. The meeting for prayer 
is held on Tuesday evening, in the Lecture Koom, and the 
lecture on Friday evening in the same place. 

The • officers of the church are : John Horn, Henry 
Wilson, Paul J. Fish, James Chase, Simeon Hyde, and 
William Hamrnel, Elders ; Hiram Eaton, and Charles F. 
Tuttle, Deacons; Charles F. Tuttle, Paul J. Fish, Moses 
J. Stone, George W. Edwards, James S. Bailey, James 
Chase, John W. Brown. 0. C. Brown, and Henry Wilson, 
Trustees. James W. McLane, Pastar. 

First Congregational Church. — This Church, which 
was organized May 28th, 1843, principally of the first 
secession from the Presbyterian church. In the same year 
was erected a brick edifice, on the corner of South Third 
and Eleventh streets. The Rev. S. S. Jocelyn took the 
pastoral charge at its first organization, in which relation 
he still remains. First Deacons, James Warner, Samuel 
Wilde and Henry Davis. First number of communicants, 
8; present number, 27. Deacons, 1851, were James 
Warner, Samuel Wilde, and Henry Davis. Sabbath 
School, 50 scholars. Sabbath School Superintendent, Jas. 
H. Warner. 

The seats of this church are free. Caste, on account 
of complexion, in this church, not allowed. Slaveholders 
and their apologists not fellowshipped, nor those who sell 
or use intoxicating drinks as a beverage. 

The Presbyterian Church. — Located on South Third 
street, corner of Fifth. " The Presbyterian Church of 
Williamsburgh," Old School, was organized April 19th, 
1844. Officers then — Elders, Henry Payson, Rufus Belden, 
and Wheeler V. Nichols. Trustees, Rufus Belden, W. 
V. Nichols, Thomas N. Ayres, A. P. Cumings, Thomas 
Pollock, B. H. Howell, Edwin Ferry, John Miller, Jr., 
Levi W. Uftbrd. Number of communicants then, 27. 

Tbe Rev. P. E. Steven&on received a unanimous call to 
the pastoral charge of this Church, in 1844, and was 



44 HISTORY OF 

installed the next year. He was dismissed in 1850, wlien 
the Rev. J. D. Wells, the present pastor, received the 
charge. 

There have been 205 members received into the church, 
up to the present time ; and a church edifice of brick, 75 
by 62 feet, has been erected, and will be free from debt, 
with the favor of Providence, before the commencement of 
the summer. The building was finished May, 184G. 
Value of church property, $20,000. Present number of 
communicants, 158. 

Officers, 1851, were: Elders, Henry Payson, W. V. 
Nichols, J. Hamilton, A. P. Cumings, G-. B. Hubbell. 
Deacons, Sylvester M. Beard, Horace Thayer, David B. 
Hunt. Trustees, A. P. Cumings, E. Ferry, H. G. Bos- 
well, B. H. Howell, R. Warnock, S. M. Beard, J. A. Burr. 
They regard their Sabbath School with very special 
interest. The average attendance of scholars on all the 
Sabbaths of last year, was 202, and of teachers, 33. The 
highest average for any entire month was 245 ; and the 
largest attendance on any one Sabbath, 264. 

St. PauVs Protestaiit Ein^coiial Church, (situated on 
the corner of Union avenue and South Second street,) was 
built during the Autumn of 1851. 

The congregation was first collected in Franklin Hall, 
by the Ptev. S. M. Haskins, Rector of St. Mark's Church, 
in the year 1844. In the year 1846, he was instrumental 
in securing the services of Rev. William Walsh, v/ho 
labored here, in connexion with the congregation just 
then started, at Maspeth;- the congregation of St. Paul's, 
worshipped during his administration, in an upper room 
on the corner of Grand street and Graham avenue. 

In the year 1847, as Mr. AValsh was called to the 
Rectorship of the church in Maspeth, where they required 
the "whole of his services, the i^v, George W. Fash 
assumed the pastoral charge of the congregation ; and 
under his direction the church was organized under the 
corporate name of " The Rector, Church Wardens and 
Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, Willianisburgh," on the 
8th day of May, 1848, and the following vestryman were 
elected ; 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 45 

George Hogg, E-icliard Seeley, Wardens; Frederick A. 
Lawrence, Saniuel Sutton, George Calloway, Thomas 
Pearsall, James Henry, Robert Thomas, Joseph Stratton, 
Thomas White, Vestrymen. 

On the first of May, 1850, the congregation returned 
to worship in Franklin Hall, where services were contin- 
ued until the first of August, 1851. During the year 
1850, the vestry purchased two lots on the corner of Union 
avenue and South Second street, where the church edifice 
now stands. 

On the 10th of March, 1851, the Rev. George W. Fash 
departed this life, after a short but severe illness, and the 
congregation was called to mourn the loss of one who had 
endeared himself to all by his amiable deportment, and 
untiring labors to advance the interests of his parish. He 
rests in peace I 

On the 30th of April, 1851, the Rev. Henry Floy 
Roberts, was elected Rector of the parish, and commenced 
his labors on the Sunday after Ascension, June 1st, 1851. 

The number of communicants in connexion wdth the 
parish, at the tivnc of the death of Mr. Fash, was stated 
to be 43, and since then, there have been eighteen others 
added to the number. 

First Universalist Church and Society. — The house 
of worship of the First Universalist Church and Society, 
is situated on Fourth street, at the corner of South-Third. 
It is a plain, but neat and substantial brick edifice, the 
interior being tastefully painted, in fresco. 

The Society was established in June, 1845; but the 
Church organization was not completed till October, 1845, 
when 19 communicants enrolled themselves; the Rev. 
Henry Lyon being the Pastor, and Messrs. George Ricard 
and Joseph C. Stanley being Deacons, The membership 
of the Church has moderately, but steadily increased. 
The relation of Rev, Mr. Lyon to the Church and Society 
closed in July, 1849, from which date, to the first of 
December of the same year, the Pastorship was vacant. 
At the latter date, the Rev. D. K. Lee assumed the Pastoral 
office. The present Deacons are, Messrs. George Ricard 
and James Hall. 



46 HISTORY OF 

The original Trustees of the Society were George 
Ricard, William B. Miles, Joseph C. Stanley, Milton 
Woolley, Amos Smith, Theophilus W. Smith, and William 
Dillingham. The present Trustees, are George Ricard, 
Amos Smith, William Dillingham. William E. Bailey, 
Daniel Hawkins, William Bunting, and G. L. Demarest. 

The morning attendance is generally from 200 to 250. 
No attempt has been made to ascertain, with any exact- 
ness, the number present on the various Sabbaths of the 
year ; but those numbers probably approach the average. 
They are frequently exceeded. 

The Universalist Sunday School was commenced on the 
13th of April, 1845, with 18 scholars, under the superin- 
tendence of G. L. Demarest, M^ho has, to the present 
time, continued in charge of the School. The number 
now connected with it, is 130. Rev. Day K. Lee, 
Pastor. 

Second Methodist E2nscopal Church. — This Church, 
which is located corner of Grand and Ewen streets, was 
organized September 4th 1845. The first Board of Trus- 
tees were Lemuel Richardson, Daniel Maujer, John F. 
Luther, Robert G. Thursby, Isaac Henderson, and Charles 
Maujer. The number of communicants, at that time, was 
10. 

The corner stone of the Church edifice, which is a very 
neat Gothic building, and an ornament to the Third 
Ward, was laid December 4th, 1845. The Church was 
dedicated to the service of Almighty God, November 26th, 
1846. 

The present number of communicants, 1851, is 130. 
The Congregation have gradually increased, so that the 
Church is now well filled. 

Regular services are held three times on the Sabbath, 
to wit :— At 10 1-2 A. M., and at 3 and 7 1-2 P. M. ; and 
also on Wednesday evening, in the Lecture Room. Rev. 
W. K. Stopfoed was the first regular Pastor of the Church, 
He received his appointment at the Conference of 1846. 
He was succeded, in 1848, by the Rev. J. J. Matthias. 
Mr. Matthias was succeeded, in 1850, by the present Pas- 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 47 

tor, Rev. W. C. Hoyt. The Parsonage is No. 475 Grand 
street. 

There is connected with the Church a large and flour- 
ishing Sabbath School. Two sessions are held each Sab- 
bath, at 9 A. M., and at 2 P. M. William A Fitch and 
Eliza Crawford, Superintendents. Connected with the 
School, and forming part of it, are two Bible Classes — one 
composed of girls, and conducted by Julia M. Fitch ; the 
other of boys, and conducted by DANiEL Maujer. The 
School is well supplied with the " Sunday School Advo- 
cate," and has a Library of between 300 and 400 well 
selected volumes. 

Christ Church North Brooklyn. — This Church which 
is located on Bedford Avenue, a few rods outside of Wil- 
liamsburgh limits, is attended almost exclusively by 
residents of our OAvn city. The parish was organized as 
"Christ Church, Wilhamsburgh," in 1846. The services 
for nearly a year, were held in the Reformed Dutch con- 
sistory room, Fourth street. The Church was without the 
services of a Pastor until September, in the above-named 
year, when the Rev. Chas. Reynolds, the present incum- 
bent, received and accepted a unanimous call to the 
Parish. The number of communicants at that time was 
13. 

Within four months from the Rector's entrance upon his 
duties, a small, yet very neat edifice was erected on the 
south-east corner of South Sixth and Fifth streets. This 
edifice being too small for the congregation in the Spring 
of 1849, and an eligible plot of ground on Bedford avenue, 
being proffered to the Vestry by the Messrs. Jacob and B. 
B. Boerum, the Parish of ''■ Christ Church, Williams- 
burgh," was dissolved, and at the same meeting, that of 
" Christ Church, North Brooklyn," organized. The 
corner stone of the present building was laid on Ascension 
day, 1849, and the church opened for divine service on the 
last Sunday in the following September. A subsequent 
enlargement was made during last Summer. 

The number of communicants in 1851, was 90. The 
Sunday School very flourishing. Its sessions are held in 



48 HISTORY OF 

the " Grammar School Building," corner of Fourth and 
South Ninth streets. Samuel Reynolds, Superintendent. 

Yestry for 1851 : Chas. Reynolds, Rector ; Samuel 
Pim, George Bunoe, Wardens; Rich'd Ten Eyck, Jas. 
H. Keely, A. J. Berry, M. D., Thomas L. Blackwell, 
(vacancy), Geo. Jardine, W. L. Gilroy, Samuel Godwin, 
Vestrijmcn. 

German Evangelical Church. — This Church, corner 
of Graham avenue and Wyckoff street, was incorporated 
under the above name, July 25th, 1847. In 1847, the 
number of communicants was 90. In 1850, the number 
of communicants was 160. Average attendance, 320. 
On Easter, Whit-Sunday, and Christmas, 450. Average 
attendance of Sabbath School, 90 to 100. 

Officers of the Church, in 1847, were — Elders, George 
Beck, Charles Maerts, James Weisshaan. Eeacons, David 
Klink, C. Herrschaft, George Goertz. Pastor, Rev. Ben- 
jamin Louis Schwartz. 

Officers, 1851, were — Elders, Balthazar Noll, Frederick 
Busch, Charles Schmidt. Deacons, Frederick Scheiman, 
Henry Wiehe, Christian Schaible. Pastor, Rev. John 
Henry Mengert. Superinte7ide7it of Sabbath School, 
Frederick Busch. 

In November, 1848, the Rev. Christian Frederick Her- 
mann Beusel, succeeded Mr. Schwartz, he having accepted 
a call to Boston. Mr. Beusel died in August, 1849, and 
was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Koehler, in December, 
the same year. In July, 1850, Mr. Koehler, dissolved his 
connection with the congregation, and in August, the Rev. 
JoHn H. Mengert was elected Pastor of the congre- 
gation. 

St. Peter and St. PcmVs Church. (R. C.)— The 
Roman Catholic Church, situated on Second street, 
between South 2d and South 3d streets, was dedicated to 
the worship of God, under the patronage of Saints Peter 
and Paul, on the 7th of May, 1848. It numbered over 
3,000 members at the time of its dedication. The esti- 
mate, 1851, was six thousand. There has been no change 
of Pastors. Rev. S. Malone is, and has been the Pastor 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 49 

from the beginning. Number of children in attendance 
at Sunday School, 600. 

The Boys have over twenty young men, who attend to 
their spiritual instruction, and the girls are not wanting in 
young ladies, who devote their best energies to their 
advantage. 

Calvary Free Church. — This Church which was com- 
menced "by the Rev. Chas. Reynolds, Rector oi' Christ 
Church, to meet the spiritual wants of the Second District, 
was by him organized Jan. 23, 1849. The services are 
at present held in " Odd Fellows' Hall, Third street, 
corner of North First, but they expect soon to remove 
into their new church edifice, which is in course of erec- 
tion, in North Fifth street, near Fifth. The building 
when finished, will be an ornament to the Second Ward, 
and a great convenience to the Episcopalians residing in 
the northern part of the city. The first officers were, W, 
G. Dunn and J. E. Jackson, Wardens; J. J. Townsend, 
R. S. Pereira, John Seward, Benj. F. Dunn, J, H. 
Simmons, Edward Hore, Andrew Dickinson and Archibald 
Douglass, Vestrymen. Number of communicants at or- 
ganization, 5 ; present number, 26. Present officers, 1851, 
are Wm. Gr. Dunn and Wm. H. Hickcox, W^ardens : J. K. 
Gittens, John Seward, J. H. Simmons, J. H. Smith, 

Samuel Tilley, Myers, Jos. Werneken, P. Sexton, 

Vestrymen. Wm. G. Dunn, Superintendent of Sunday 
School ; average attendance of scholars, 50. Rector, Rev. 
Mr. Timlow. 

North Fifth Street M. E. Church.— This Church 
was organised April 1849. The edifice is a substantial 
brick building, located in North Fifth street, near Fourth. 
The first officers were, David H. Betts, Henry 0. Austin, 
Richard White, John C. Briggs, Wm. Johnson, John Cox, 
William P. Coleman, Wm. Butler, and Henry A. Bodwell. 
The number of communicants at that time was 43. The 
church has increased in membership to 80, and the con- 
gregation has more than doubled. The present officers, 
1851, are, Richard White, D. B. Betts, J. C. Briggs, H, 0. 
Austin, Robert Bonsel, Wm. Johnson, J. Cox, C, W. 
Matthews and Oliver Leech. The Sunday School numbers 
5 



50 HISTORY OP 

about 120. William Johnson and Lucy W. Briggs, Super- 
intendents, Rev. S. Meredith, Pastor. 

Third Methodist Episcojml Church. — This Church 
was " colonized " by the first M. E. Church, and organ- 
ized. May 6th, 1839. This church is located on the corner 
of Fifth and South Fifth streets. The Trustees at the 
time of organization were, James D. Sparkman, Nathaniel 
Briggs, Dr. S. Wade, Thomas Lewis, Wm. Y. Hem- 
menway, Gilbert Potter, Wm. Morgan, George W. Smith, 
and George D. Hubbard. Number of communicants at 
the time of organization, 37 ; at present time, 1851, is 
150. Attendance Sunday School — No. of scholars, 150 ; 
average, 130. 

Chief officers — Daniel Barker and N. Briggs, Superin- 
tendents ; Sam'l W. Truslow, Secretary ; John Truslow, 
Librarian. E. L. Janes, Pastor. 

Reformed Scotch Presbyterian Church. — Public wor- 
ship is held every Lord's day, in the large building corner 
of North First and Ninth streets, at lOJs a. m,, o}i, and 
1/i p. M. Sabbath School at 9 a. m. and 2 p. m. This 
Church was organized on the 11th of April, 1850. It 
then consisted of 23 members ; its pastor was ordained 
and installed on the 6th of May in the same year. Little 
more than a year has elapsed, (1851,) since its organiza- 
tion, and noM^ it numbers nearly 100 members. 

This Church is precisely the same as that established 
by John Knox in Scotland, in A. D. 1560 ; and also as 
that which was so severely persecuted in Scotland 
between 1660 and 1689. It bears amicable relations to 
the Free Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in 
England, the General Assembly in Ireland, and the Pres- 
byterian Church of Canada. The Reformed Presbyterian 
Church is the only American Church which fully agrees 
in doctrine and worship with the Scottish and Irish Pres- 
byterian General Assemblies. Rev, J. B. Finlay, Ph. D., 
Pastor. 

New England Congregational Church and Society. 
— This Church and Society worships in " Central Hall," 
which is located on the corner of Fifth and South First 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 51 

streets. It was organized, May 6th, 1851, by electing as 
Trustees, Messrs. David H. Fitch, Robert Carter, J. L. 
Moore, E. P. Lettle, J. D. Holbrook, and J. Buxton, jr. 
Treasurer,'!). H. Fitch; Sec/eto?*?/, Charles J. Buxton. 
Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, Pastor. The Society has 
increased greatly since its organization, and will, without 
doubt, soon erect a church edifice suitable to its wants. 

Besides the above church organizations, there are four 
colored congregations, the one, Episcopal, and the other 
three, Methodist. 

The African M. E. Church, (Zion,) was organized in 
1835; at first they worshipped in the old Methodist 
church, but of late in a small frame building, in North 
Second street, above Union avenue. 

The Asbury M. E. Church worships in a small 
building in North Seventh, near Sixth street. 

Bethel M. E. Church, is located in Frost near Lor- 
imer street. 

St. James' Church, (Episcopal,) was commenced in 
1846. This congregation worships in a small building in 
South Third street, near Ninth. Rector, Rev. Samuel 
V. Berry. 



52 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER V. 

LITERATURE. 

It is gratifying to know that our young City is not lacking 
in literary talent, — in men who labor for the enlighten- 
ment and refinement of mankind. 

We believe that Williamsburgh possesses as much, if 
not more, theological, literary, and oratorical talent as any 
other city of its population in the " Western World." 
For the literary a.bility let the publications speak for them- 
selves. 

We shall not attempt to notice the different publications 
in the order of their respective dates, much less according 
to their talent and merit, but shall notice them as they 
occur to our mind. 

" A History of Long Island, from its first settlement by 
Europeans, to the Year 1845, with special reference to its 
Ecclesiastical Concerns," was written by Mr. Nathaniel S. 
Prime, and published in 1845. Mr. Prime has condensed 
a large amount of interesting matter in this History, both 
civil and ecclesiastical. He has given the reader a general 
outline of the physical features, civil divisions, and pro- 
gressive improvement of all parts of the Island. It is 
probably the most elaborate work ever written in Wil- 
liamsburgh, containing, as it does, more than four hundred 
pages. 

The following publications appeared in their respective 
dates, from the pen of Mr. Andrew 'Dickinson. Mr. D. is 
an interesting and able writer ; his poetical talents are of 
no ordinary kind, as all who have read his Poems, as well 
as the numerous fugitive pieces he has written on number-, 
less occasions, are aware. Mr. Dickinson not only excels 
as a poet, but his last w^ork proves him to be a chaste and 
able prose writer. 

In the year 1845 appeared a very neat volume, 
of one hundred and eight pages, with a fine engraving of 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 53 

the entrance to Greenwood, as it was in 1844. The 
volume was entitled " The City of the Dead, and Other 
Poems. By Andrew Dickinson." Mr. D. was, for several 
years, a correspondent of various literary journals, and his 
fugitives, after floating about on the surface of periodical 
literature, were collected and published. The principal 
piece, and the one which gives title to the collection, is a 
description of that beautiful Necropolis, Greenwood — not 
a topographical description, but the thoughts and medita- 
tions which naturally arise in reflecting, meditative minds. 
A vein of true philosophy runs through this poem, and, 
indeed, in most of them, is prominent the grand idea of 
happiness beyond the grave. The work is spoken of by 
the press as possessing the higher attributes of true poetry. 
One literary journal, of a high order, speaks of their sim- 
plicity and freedom from affectation and effort, which con- 
stitute no ordinary charm in these days when the stilted 
and the unintelligible are so much courted. Thousands of 
lines, which, by the means of inflated and pompous diction, 
and the false 'pretences of versifiers, steal the name of 
poetry and appropriate popular applause, contain far less 
of the genuine spirit of poetry than these humble verses." 
An editorial notice, by the late editor of the " New York 
American,'' says, — " In the first and longest piece (Green- 
wood) there are lines worthy of the unrivalled scenery of 
that most lovely City of the Dead. There is, throughout 
them all, a deep sense of moral beauty, a reverence for 
virtue, a love of nature, and an aptness to catch and paint 
its living features." Among the pieces that have attracted 
most attention are '^ My Native Home," " The Romance 
of Life," " Strength in Adversity," " A Landscape of Frost," 
and a free translation of the celebrated " Dies Irce'' 
spoken of by competent critics as the best ever published. 
No higher praise could be awarded than that by a clergy- 
man, himself a fine poet, who, in a notice of some lines in 
"A Midsummer Eamble," says, " They strongly remind 
us of the graceful ease of Cowper, relieved by the energy 
of Thomson." 

In August, 1850, Mr. Dickinson published a beautifully 
printed 12mo. volume of two hundred and twenty pages 
#5 



64 HISTORY OF 

illustrated entitled '^My First Visit to Euroj^e; or Sketches 
of Society, Scenery, and Antiquities in Ungland, Wales, 
Ireland, Scotland, and France^ The work is decidedly- 
popular, having passed to a second edition in six weeks. 
It has elicited much praise from the press, and all classes 
of readers, whose verdict may be considered entirely de- 
cisive . The type were all set up by the author himself. 
His style is easy, natural, enthusiastic, with an occasional 
sprinkle of pleasantry, and is free from certain prevailing 
faults of hackneyed authors, who write for efiect, and who 
aim so high as to overshoot the heads of the people. That 
we may not be thought to overrate the merits of the book, 
we shall fortify our own opinion by adopting the language 
of a writer, second to none for editorial ability, who styles 
it " a very readable book — fresh, unafiected, genuine. The 
author, a practical printer, sought, in a sea-voyage and 
new scenes, restoration of impaired health. He was for- 
tunate in his acquaintances, and in the incidents of his 
travel ; and the narration is at once faithful, varied and 
interesting." " We have gone over these sketches," (says 
another,) " with those pleasurable sensations which the 
mind experiences while enjoying the companionship of a 
genial and warm-hearted friend. We felt perfectly at home 
in the journey, while the lively descriptions, poetic fancies, 
moral reflections, and religious reverence, which charac- 
terize the dottings of our traveller, effectually prevented all 
sense of weariness. There is a transparent honesty and 
sincerity, a deep sympathy with humanity in all its forms 
of exhibition, and a tenderness of feeling for sorrow and 
suffering, in this little volume, which will endear it to the 
author's friends." 

As connected with the topic of this chapter, the name 
of John Milton Stearns, Esq., deserves honorable mention ; 
having been a resident in Williamsburgh since the year 
1844, he has been identified with many of the most im- 
portant incidents in the development of the intellectual 
character, enterprise and educational interests. In 1847, 
a volume of his fugitive writings was published by Edward 
Walker, of New-York City, as a gift book or annual, 
under the title of The Wreath of Wild Flowers. It was 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 65 

a neat duodecimo volume of about three hundred pages, 
filled with stories, sketches, poetry, and reflections of a reli- 
gious and moral caste. Two editions of this work were 
sold by the original publisher ; after which, its stereotype 
plates, with the copy-right, were sold at the New- York 
trade-sale, and passed into the hands of a publishing house 
in Boston. In the hands of these publishers it lost its 
original title and the name of its author, and was meta- 
morphosed, by the omission of the preface and one or two 
articles from the body of the work, and by the introduction 
of some half a dozen steel engravings, illustrated by as 
many light fancy scraps of poetry. In 1851, it appeared 
as the Amaranth ; and now, in 1852, it styles itself The 
Garland, and claims that its stereotype plates have been 
^' editecV by one " Emily Percival." It is believed the 
present publisher sells from five to ten thousand copies a 
year of this work, whose effective simplicity and moral 
associations have commended it to the taste and interest 
of popular readers. Its author, no doubt, has the satisfac- 
tion of knowing that his immediate publisher has not 
suffered, through the investment in this work ; though his 
own satisfaction, if any, is, we understand, of a higher 
order than a pecuniary compensation for his labors. In- 
deed, we are informed, that the present publishers are 
wholly unknown to him, the legal property in the work 
having passed to them with the plates. So far as this 
work is concerned, its author is literarily dead (as men 
will say in politics), and he may amuse himself with the 
illustration afforded of the fortunes of estates in remainder, 
when they cease to be guarded by respect to the ancestor. 
From July 1847, to July 1848, Mr. Stearns was con- 
nected with the Farmer and Mechanic, a weekly new^s- 
paper published in the city of New- York, to which, as 
one of the editors, he contributed numerous essays and 
articles on the topics to which that paper is devoted ; in 
which, he has sought to impress conviction that 'p)XLctical 
intelligence is essential to the emancipation of labor from 
the domination of capital, and to develop and exalt the 
character of a state. And in pursuing this view, he has 
established a just claim to respect for the many valuable 



56 HISTORY OF 

and useful suggestions found in the columns of his joiirna. 
during the above period. 

Mr. Stearns' contributions to our local press has 
been various and extensive. Probably his miscellaneous 
writings, for these papers, and for the city press, with the 
volume we have noticed, would fill as many as four other 
similar volumes, and be equal in all to fifteen hundred 
duodecimo pages. It may, perhaps, be unnecessary to say 
that the hope of gain has not been among the incitements 
of his eflbrts or the genius of his inspirations. If it were 
so, that hope must have inspired an unflagging perse- 
verance against the experience of years, for we are in- 
formed that the whole literary income of his life might not 
exceed fifty dollars. 

We are informed that the principles upon which the 
Board of Finance of the late village and of this city arc 
constituted, were suggested in his correspondence. This 
novel incident in a municipal corporation has shown an 
admirable adaptation of our city charter to a proper 
economy in its administration. The present Board of 
Education, in many of its features, has been constructed 
on the plan drawn out by Mr. Stearns, and published in 
the Wilhamsburgh Times, for November 30th, 1849. 

Mr, Stearns is now devoted to the legal profession, as 
will be seen by his card, contained under his name in the 
Directory for 1852-3, What influence the strict con- 
structions, limitations and precisions of this ancient science 
may have on his literary inspirations remains yet to be 
seen ; for, though the law seems sometimes the most 
uncertain thing in existence, its tendency is to a rigid 
authority over the spirit and mind, as well as over human 
conduct and material things. Whatever the law may 
give us, it demands facts rather than fictions, and expe- 
rience more than theory, and values the substantial in 
present rewards for human toil more than the dreams of 
poets of celestial skies — dreamed in the desolations of a 
garret or a cave. 

Rev. John B. Finlay, Ph. D., Rector of the Reformed 
Presbyterian Church, has made large additions to the 
literature of Williamsbuygh. The Doctor is conversant 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 57 

with the oriental languages and literature, and a finished 
historical and theological scholar. It were superfluous for 
us to eulogize his published productions. The extensive 
circulation his works have received is sufficient proof of his 
talents as a writer. 

As an author his first publication was a Latin Essay on 
the " Philosophy of the Human Mind." It was published 
in connection with a " Dissertation on the Philology of 
Homer," at Leipsic, (Germany,) in the year 1846. In 
1848, while in Canada, he published Letters on Education. 
In 1851, he published a volume of lectures on the History 
of the Christian Church. Its chief design, was to refute 
the lecture of Archbishop Hughes, on the " Decline of 
Protestantism." It viewed the Christian Church in a 
fourfold state — in her purity, decline, apostacy, and 
reformation — designated by the terms, "Evangelism, Ca- 
tholicism, Romanism, and Protestantism." His next 
publication, was an Address delivered to the Protestant 
Association, in Paterson, N. J., entitled "Protestantism, 
the only Propagator of Civil and Ueligious Liberty." 

He is now editor of a monthly periodical, called 
The Protestant — which is not a sectarian publication, but 
is chiefly for propagating the principles of the fathers of 
the Heformation, as they are set forth in the Reformed 
CathoHc Church. This work has a large circulation, and 
is becoming increasingly popular. 

A Translation of the entire Bible, published in. Phila- 
delphia, under the direction of Professor Kendrick of 
Hamilton College, was made principally by the Rev. N. 
N. A^liiting, who has for many years been a resident of 
Willi am sburgh. Mr. Whiting excels as a writer, and is, 
undoubtedly, one of the most thorough scholars of the 
age. 

Subsequently he published a Tract on German Neology, 
which evinced the same extensive reading and knowledge 
of letters, that have marked all his literary productions. 

" Moral Traiyier^ — This work was pubhshed by Mr. 
Alexander Taylor, who was a school teacher. The work 
is a compilation of the state of schools and primary edu- 



58 



HISTORY OF 



cation, both in Europe and America. Mr. T. was also 
the author of the "Economical Collection for School and 
Farm Book-keeping." We know but little of the merits of 
the above gentleman as an author, but beheve his works 
had but a very limited circulation. 

Rev. Mr. Isaac Warner published a German and English 
Grammar, designed for the use of Germans who wished to 
become acquainted with the EngHsh language. He also 
pubHshed the " Emigrant's Guide, and Citizen's Man- 
ual," intended for the use of emigrants and travellers. In 
addition to the above he published an Essay, the object 
of which was to prove, that cajntal 'punhlmient is essen- 
tial to the good order and well-being of Society. 

Rev. J. C. F. Frey published in two volumes a course 
of Lectures, illustrating the types of the Old Testament, 
We have been informed that Mr. F. was a convert from 
Judaism, and a scholar of some merit. 

Mr. John Coit, who has long since been called from this 
world, published a work on Navigation, which has con- 
tributed its part towards perfecting that system of naviga- 
tion which is so universally adopted. 

A History of the United States was published by Dr. 
Egbert Guernsey. The leading feature of this work, 
which was intended for schools, was. " to trace God's hand 
in History." The same gentleman rendered Dr. Hull 
much valuable assistance on his work, entitled " Homoeo- 
pathic Practice of Medicine." 

Rev. Mr. McLane, Pastor of the First Presbyterian 
Church, has distinguished himself as a biblical Scholar. 
We quote the following from the Long Island Family 
Circle. " A very laborious and valuable contribution to 
Biblical Literature was made by the Rev. Mr. McLane. 
The American Biblical Society needed a more accurate 
edition of the Bible than they possessed. During the fre- 
quent reprintings of that Holy volume, innumerable errors 
in punctuation, type-setting, &c,, had crept in. To 
correct these demanded the most m.ature scholarship and 
profound judgment. The work was accomplished, after a 
vast deal of pains and application, to the entire satisfac- 
tion of the managers of the American Bible Society, and 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 59 

with the thanks of all the Bible students, pastors and 
teachers, throughout the land. He also is one of the con- 
tributors of the New Englander, an able Theological 
Quarterly of New Haven," 

The first Williamsburgh Directory was published in 
1847, by our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. Henry Payson^ 
He published it three successive years but with pecuniary 
loss every year. He then abandoned the field, which was 
at once occupied by the present publishers, Messrs. Samuel 
and T. F. Keynolds. By great exertion on their part, the 
work has since then paid expenses, and is now becoming 
a very popular medium for advertising. 

The work has been much improved by the present 
publishers, and is now considered an indispensable conve- 
nience to the business community of our city. 

The last publication written in Williamsburgh, was 
from the pen of Prof. Abadie, entitled the "■ FireTnan.'' 
The work is dedicated to the Firemen of the three cities, 
Williamsburgh, New York, and Brooklyn. It consists of 
fugitive pieces many of which emanated from emotions 
occasioned by incidental occurrences, and were written for 
the most part, for the Williamsburgh newspapers. Prof. 
A. has a poetic turn of mind, and loves " to invoke the 
muses." Many of the thoughts conveyed in his poems 
are pretty, and his allegories appropriate and striking. 
We doubt not the work will have a considerable circula- 
tion among that class of our citizens to whom it is dedi- 
cated. 

Ill addition to the above works, many pamphlets, tracts 
and sermons, have been published in Williamsburgh, by 
clergymen and others. To give a notice of all these fugi- 
tive productions, would be impracticable and uninteresting. 
We shall close our sketch of Williamsburgh Literature, by 
noticing the different newspapers which have been started 
at various times. 

The Williamsburgh Gazette was the first paper ever 
published here. It Was started. May 25th, 1 835, under 
the direction of Mr. Adrastus Fish. Feb. 5th, 1838, it 
was transferred to the present proprietor, Mr. L. Darbee. 
It was continued a neutral, until October 1840, during the 



60 



HISTORY OF 



Harrison campaign, when it was changed to a political 
paper. In January 1850, it appeared as a " Daily, and 
as such, is still continued. 

The Williamsbursh Democrat was the next paper 
that appeared. It was commenced in June 1840, and 
afterwards discontinued. 

The JDemocratic Advocate then followed m 1844. 
This paper was continued about six years. 

The Daily LoJig Islander appeared in 1845, and was 
discontinued after a few weeks. It was conducted by the 
present proprietors of the Indejjendent Press. 

The WIorni7ig Post next appeared in 1847; that was 
also subsequently discontinued. . ^^ 

The Daily Times next appeared m 184b, under the 
direction of Messrs. Bennett & Smith. _ -^ ^ ,orn -u 

The Independent Press was started m July 1850, by 
an Association, afterwards transferred to Messrs. Swack 
hamer, and finally to the present proprietors, Messrs. Bishop 

& Kelly. ^ , 

The Long Island Zeitung, a German paper, appeared 

in January 1851. , i v i i v 

The Kings County Chronicle was first published by 

Mr. Swackhamer, in August 1851. 

The Long Island Family Circle appeared m the 

becrinnino- of March 1852. Messrs. Schroeder & Co., are 

the proprietors, and Mr. J. C. Gandar is the publisher. 
The Williamshnrgh Telegrajyh numbers last oi the 

list, and was commenced in the latter part of March, 

1852. ^ ^ .,. . ^, 

Of the above papers, there are three dailies, viz : the 
Daily Times, Gazette and Independent Press, and lour 
weeklies, viz : the Long Island Zeitung, Kings County 
Chronicle, Long Idand Family Circle, and Telegraph 
The papers ultimately discontinued, as above-mentioned 
were the Long Islander, Democrat, Mormng Post, and 
Democratic Advocate. ■ ., K^r, 

Williamshurgh Lyceum.— On Thursday evenmg, 15th 
March, 1838, a meeting was called, by public notice, lor 
the purpose of forming a Debating Society, to afiord our 
citizens an opportunity for improvement m oratory, and 



WILLIAMSBTJRGH. 61 

the acquirement of general knowledge. Mr. Paul J, Fish 
was called to the Chair, and Thos. C. Moore, was 
appointed Secretary. 

A Committee of seven was appointed to draft a consti- 
tution, viz : W. C. Shaw, Jno. S. McKibbin, Levi Darbee, 
Jno. Moore, and David Strong, together with the Presi- 
dent and Secretary. 

At a subsequent meeting, a constitution was framed, and 
the following were the officers elected : 

President, Paul J. Fish ; Recording Secretary, Thos. 
C. Moore : Vice Pres. Jno. S. McKibbin ; Treasurer, W, 
C. Shaw; Corresijonding Secretary, J. H. Herbert; Di- 
rectors, Levi Darbee and Jno, Moore. 

The constitution was signed by several gentlemen, in 
addition to those above-mentioned ; they were, Dr. George 
Cox, Orlando Warren, Schenck Way, Lyman Cook, John 
Wright, Samuel C. Davis, W. Vost, W. Frisby, Octavius 
Longworth, Jno. Cook, N. N. Whiting, Davis Johnson, 
L. T. Coles, and F. V. Morrell. 

The meetings were held in the Court-room. The first 
lecture was delivered by Mr. J. W. AYright, on the 
"Structure of the English Language." 

The first debate was, " Are Theatrical Exhibitions 
beneficial to a Community?" which, after a very interesting 
debate, was decided in the negative. 

The second lecture was delivered by Dr. Northall, in 
the Dutch Reformed Church, before a large audience, 
Bubject " Physical Education of the Young." 

The Lyceum continued to hold its meetings weekly, till 
May 16th, 1839, which appears to have been the last 
meeting, till March 27th, 1844, when it received new life, 
the constitution being revised and altered, and the follow- 
ing officers elected : 

President, K.Y. Cumings; Vice Presidents, Timothy 
Coffin, Thos. N. Ayres ; Corresponding Secretary, Dan'l 
Egan ; Recordiiig Secretary, ^m. C. Prime; Treasurer, 
Jonathan Odell ; Curators, B. Graham, Ephraim Miller, 
Thos. C. Moore, Lawrence Waterbury, Samuel R. Kelly, 

Many able, interesting and instructive debates were 
then held. The first of which, w^as, " Are the abilities of 
6 



62 HISTORY OF 

the sexes naturally equal " which was decided negatively 
by the President, on the merits of the question, and the 
Lyceum decided in favor of the affirmative, on the merits 
of the debate. It was supported on the affirmative by 
the Rev. Mr. Roberts, D. Egan, Esq., and the Rev. N. S . 
Prime, on the ne<2;ative, by Rev. Mr. Van Doren, Mr Mac- 
Donald, and Mr.^W. C. Prime 

The erection of a building which should contain a room 
for debates and lectures, reading room, library, and cabinet 
of minerals, was agitated, a committee formed and plans 
prepared. 

Lectures from several eminent gentlemen were delivered 
during this season. Among the debates was one which 
elicited much interest and animated discussion, (it being 
continued through tM'o evenings,) viz : "Ought the Tariff 
to be for revenue, or protection?" it was decided in favor of 
the negative. 

On the 29th of January the following resolution was 
submitted and adopted : 

Resohed, That the Executive Board be requested to 
apply to the Legislature of the State, for an act to incor- 
porate the Willinmsburgh Lyceum, with the usual powers 
and privileges invested in institutions of this character. 

Notices were put in the village papers, and also in the 
State paper, at Albany, of the intention of making such 
an application. The amount which had been left blank, 
was subsequently filled up for twelve thousand dollars. 

The debates were interspersed throughout with lectures 
and anonymous contributions. Nothing of much interest 
transjiiring till August 27, 1845, when Mr. Cumings 
resigned as President, and Mr. D. Egan was elected to fill 
the vacancy, a resolution was passed tendering to the ex- 
President the thanks of the Lyceum for the able and 
devoted manner in which he had performed the duties of 
his office, since the re-establishment of the institution. 

January 7, 1846, the annual election took place ; Jos. 
Bcughton was chosen President ; with regard to the other 
oflicers there was no material change. 

January, 1847, a slight change of officers took place 
arid the usual interest was maintained in lectures and 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 63 

debates, throughout the season ; at the close of which a 
literary festival was held, consisting- of addresses from the 
Rev. Mr. Prime, Dr. Baird, and Prof. Mapes. 

January, 1848, Mr. Curaings was again chosen to the 
Presidency. 1st Vice Pres., Stephen Waterman ; 2d do., 
Br. E. Guernsey; Recording Secretary, Wm. Hunting; 
Corresponding Secretary, J. M. Stearns; Treasurer, 
Benj. H. Howell ; Curators, Geo. S. Schemerhorn, Sylves- 
ter M. Baird, Jas. Warner, Wm. J. Nevius, B. T. Jessup. 

Prof Loomis delivered a course of lectures this season 
upon Astronomy, v/hich were well attended. An addition 
of two hundred volumes was made to the library. 

The closing exercises consisted of an address by Rev. 
Sam't J. Prime, on the life and public services of Jno. 
Q,uincy Adams ; a collection was taken in aid of the 
library. 

January, 1849, Capt. N. Briggs was chosen President, 
but having resigned, the Rev. S. S. Jocelyn was elected in 
his stefd. Lectures and debates continued as usual. 
Among the latter was a rather curious one, viz : " If a 
pumpkin vine spring from the land of one man, and bear 
fruit on that of another, does the fruit belong to him on 
whose land it springs?" which was decided in the nega- 
tive on the merits of the debate. 

January, 1850, Dr. A. J. Berry was elected to the 
Presidency. The debates were discontinued. 

January, 1851, Prof. M. B. Anderson (of New York 
Recorder) was chosen President for this year. Lectures 
were the only exercises. Dr. Baird delivering the closing 
one for the season. 

December 4th, 1851, the opening lecture was delivered 
by Rev. Daniel P. Noyes, to a large and respectable 
audience. 

January, 1852, Prof. Anderson was re-elected to the 
Presidency, but declined, and Hon. E. D. Culver was 
chosen to fill the vacancy. The most eminent lecturers 
were employed daring this season, which closed with a 
poem delivered by Rev. Jno. Pierpont. 



64 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER VI. 

SCHOOLS. 

Among the most promising indications of the futurie 
prosperity of "Williamsburgh is the liberal provision made 
for popular education. Recent as is the organization of 
this school system, its present prosperity and usefulness 
may be regarded as an earnest of what we may expect in 
the great business of educating our youth. But a few 
years ago there was but one of these schools in the village 
of Williamsburgh, and that was kept in an old shattered 
building on the north side, where the old log cabin stood. 

Mr. Butler, the present City Clerk, who was one of the 
pioneers in the cause of education, successfully conducted 
the first school. Although his difficulties were many, for 
want of room, of books, and of proper sympathy and en- 
couragement from those whose duty it was to promote the 
cause, he persevered in his efforts, and laid the foundation 
of public instruction for our young City. We understand, 
that for the first few years, but a very small number of our 
citizens felt much interest in the cause of education, al- 
though its importance must have been admitted by all. It 
is a fact, worthy of mention, that some of the most active 
and efficient friends of the public school system were men of 
a very limited education, and possessing but a small amount 
of book -knowledge, yet they knew that education is one of 
the ^^ jnllars in the temple of liberty,'' and although they 
were deprived of its benefits themselves, except in a limited 
degree, were desirous that their children, and those of their 
fellow-citizens, should enjoy the advantages of a regular 
system of mental training, and be thus fitted for active 
life. 

In the year 1820, David Dunham, of the town of Bush- 
wick, gave a plot of ground, the dimensions of which were 
thirty by one hundred feet, near North First street, for the 
purpose of erecting upon it a district school-house. The 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 65 

same plot of ground, v/e are informed by good authority, 
was recently occupied by the colored school. The school 
was then known as District School No. 3, in the town of 
Bushwick. This school district included all the present 
City of Williamsburgh west cf Union avenue, which con< 
stitutes the First and Second Wards. At this time the 
whole number of children in the district did not exceed 
forty. The village of Williamsburgh being incorporated 
m 1827, and increasing in numbers, public attention was 
m some degree turned to the subject of education. Several 
unsuccessful attempts were made by private individuals 
to obtain assistance from the State Legislature to put the 
schools on equal pecuniary standing with those of New 
York city. Owing to the prejudice then existing against 
public schools, the majority of the inhabitants opposed the 
cause, rather than advance it ; and thus the first school 
continued to drag out a miserable existence, doing and re- 
ceiving but a very small amount of good, until 1838, with 
but little variation and less interest. In 1838, Mr. Edwin 
Ferry, David Garret and James Ainslie were elected as 
Trustees of District School No. 3. The school at this time, 
as we have noticed, was at a very low ebb, its character 
bemg such that only a few of the parents allowed their 
children to attend. The Trustees industriously set them- 
selves to work to improve the character and promote the 
usefulness of the school. They discharged the teacher 
then employed, and, in his stead, engaged Mr. William 
H. Butler, before referred to. When Mr. Butler entered 
upon, his duties in connection with this school, the number 
of children in attendance was only thirty ; this number 
mcreased within a year to one hundred and fifty, nearly 
one half of all the children in the district, the whole num- 
ber being three hundred and six, and three-fourths of all 
that were fit to attend school. The school-house was a 
one story building, nineteen by twenty-five feet. In this 
small building there was crowded the number just stated, 
VIZ. : one hundred and fifty children. As the building 
was inadequate to accommodate the increasing numbers, a 
meeting was called the next year (1839) for°the purpose 
of raising, money to enlarge the building. At this meeting 
#5 ° 



66 HISTORY OF 

six gentlemen attended, and voted, for this specific purpose, 
the sum of $125, which was approprintedto the addition of 
a second story. Previous to this enlargement, girls and 
boys were all taught in the same room In a few months 
the school increased to two hundred and thirty-six scholars, 
one hundred and fifty-six of the number boys, and the rest 
(eighty) girls. The school continued to increase in num- 
bers and grow in favor with all classes. In 1843, the 
people at the District School meeting divided, by vote, 
the village into three districts. Mr. Kichard Berry was 
elected Superintendent of Schools, and a short time after 
his election the districts were divided, and remain the 
same, without any change of territory. A large and sub- 
stantial brick building was forthwith erected in each dis- 
trict, adequate to the wants of the increasing population. 
About two years ago, a large and elegant building was 
added to the first district, and in the second district the 
building was exchanged for a much larger and more suita- 
ble one. It is worthy of notice, that, as the number of 
scholars in Williamsburgh in 1838 was three hundred and 
six, in 1852, a period of fourteen years, that number had 
increased to six thousand and seven hundred. This great 
increase was, no doubt, partly owing to the ample pro- 
vision made for public education, as well as by other ad- 
vantages Williamsburgh possesses. 

PRIVATTi: SCHOOLS. 

In addition to the provision made for public instruction, 
there are numerous private schools, more or less select, for 
both sexes, and of various grades. 

Many private schools have been established, continued 
for a while, and been given up, either from want of pa- 
tronage or other causes, both before and since the public 
school organization. To give a detailed account of all 
these would be a task of great labor and little interest. 
We shall, therefore, do no more than give a sketch of the 
principal ones now in existence. It is very encouraging 
to know that the private schools in Williamsburgh com- 
pare favorably with the best regulated ones in New York 
eity. Although this is an acknowledged fact, combined 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 67 

with the advantage of a quiet and healthful location, many 
persons send their children to New York to be educated, 
thereby exposing them to all the disadvantages of a close 
city atmosphere and crowded streets, without receiving 
any advantage which the schools of Williarasbu'-^^h do not 
present. We know not how to account for this strange 
and incautious proceeding of parents towards their chil- 
dren, unless it be on the ground of prejudice. It is known 
to all that a great part of our increasing population con- 
sists of families from New York, who move over for 
economy or health, or both ; that being the case, it may 
not be strange that parents, at first, overlook this incau- 
tious exposure of their children, and send them a while to 
their former schools. 

The largest of the select schools for boys is the Wil-< 
liamsburgh Grammar School, situated on the corner of 
Fourth and South Ninth streets. This institution, which 
was established by the Rev. Charles E.eynolds, rector of 
Christ Church, and soon after transfered to his brothers, 
has been successfully conducted five years, during which 
time it has received many expressions of approval and 
satisfaction from its numerous patrons. Our personal rela- 
tions make it injudicious and unbecoming in us to eulogize 
this institution. To ascertain the particulars, our readers 
are referred to the school circular. 

The next school in size and character is, probably, the 
"Mathematical and Classical Institution," conducted by 
Mr. I. W. Warner, situated on the corner of Ainslie and 
Smith streets. This school has been in operation several 
years, and from its location is well situated for the accom- 
modation of the Third Ward, as well as for farmers' sons 
residing in Bushwick. 

The Williamsburgh Institute is located in Sixth street, 
between South Third and South Fourth. This school is 
under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Lockwood, who first 
opened it in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, and 
afterwards erected a building in the above location. We 
are unable to give any further details of this school, which 
is apparently in a prosperous condition. 

The " Commercial and Classical Academy" is kept by 



68 HISTORY OF 

tiie Rev. A. A. Marcellus, in the consistory room of the 
iReformed Dutch Church. This school, under a diflerent 
name, has been conducted for several years by Mr. Ferris, 
and was at one time much the largest private school in 
Williamsburgh. This gentleman resigned the "moulding 
of the young and tender mind" to other hands a few 
months since, and has, we are informed, taken the reponsi- 
bility of moulding harder material, though perhaps much 
more easily shaped. This school was transferred by him. 
to a Mr. D., under whose direction it was conducted bvit a 
very short time, making true the adage ''that all good 
scliolars are 7iot good teachers,'' Afterwards the Rev. 
Mr. Marcellus wras prevailed upon by his friends to return, 
to Williamsburgh and reopen this school, which he did the 
first of May last. 

We believe these are all the male schools in wdiich the 
mathematics, and the classics are taught. 

Among the principal female schools are the following : 

The Young Ladies' Collegiate Institute, which is under 
the direction of Prof. P. Abadie, and located in the first 
story of the Grammar School building, corner of Fourth 
and South Ninth streets. 

This institution was started about four years ago, by the 
Rev. C. Reynolds, and for the first term was conducted 
with only two pupils. Before the close of the second 
term the number increased to over twenty, and has been 
steadily increasing ever since. After its successful opera- 
tion one year, it was transferred to the present proprietor, 
and removed from Mr. Reynolds' residence, 50 South 
Eighth street, to 89 Fourth street, and there conducted 
until the erection of the Grammar School building, in Sep- 
tember, 1850. 

This institution stands in high repute, and compares 
favorably with any in the country. It has received many 
very flattering reports from visiting and examining com- 
mittees ; and many essays from the young ladies, at va- 
rious times, have evinced a thorough synthetical training, 
and elicited much credit fromi a criticising public. 

The "Female Seminary," by Miss Howland, is kept in 
tl>e adjoining building to the First Presbyterian Church, in 



WILLIAMSBUKGH. 69 

South Fourth street, near Sixth. This institution has 
been in operation a number of years, and has undergone 
some removals m location. It was removed, in 1850, from 

expressly for the school. It is both a boarding and day 
Vrym^lr^^^'h'^"' <J«^«"«dIy a good reputatioZ 
in M ^«1?'^' ''Academy for Young Ladies was opened 
m May, 1851, m 68 South Ninth street. The Professor 
came here highly recommended as an experienced andefE- 
cient teaeher, and opened his school with a considerable 
number of young ladies. This institution is receiving a 
due share of patronage and support, and is very favorably 
spoken of There are many other schools of inferior char- 
acter, patronized by persons who are unable to pay the 
respective terms of tuition in the above institutions, or 
who send their children to get the rudiments of education. 



70 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER YII. 

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 

The Willi amsburgh Bible Society was organized in 
1845, and made auxiliary to the " American Bible Society." 
Its object is to distribute among the poor and destitute, 
the sacred scriptures in the common version, without note 
or comment. Persons are admitted as members of this 
society by paying one dollar, annually, and life members 
by paying the sum of ten dollars. 

The ministers of the gospel residing in Williamsburgh, 
who are members of the society, constitute an executive 
board, to superintend its operations. 

"Local feeling, party prejudice, sectarian jealousies, are 
excluded by its very nature. Its members are leagued in 
that, and in that alone, which calls up every hallowed,, 
and puts down every unhallowed principle — the dissemi- 
nation of the scriptures in the received versions where 
they exist, and in the most faithful where they may be 
required. In such a work, whatever is dignihed, kind, 
venerable, true, has ample scope, while sectarian littleness 
and rivalries can find no avenue of admission." 

We cannot give a better idea of the object and char- 
acter of this institution, than submitting an extract from 
an address, written by the first president of the society, and 
which was published with the constitution, and circulated 
at the first organization, January, 1845. 

" In the first place, the perfectly catholic character of 
the institution claims attention. It proposes " to distribute 
the holy scriptures, in the common version, without note 
or comment." The bible, we all acknowledge, to be the 
standard of our common faith — the only infallible rule of 
truth and duty. The distribution of this book, then, 
unaccompanied by human interpretations, may be pro- 
moted with equal propriety, consistency, and advantage, by 
all evangelical christians. The bare expression of an 



WILLIAMSBURG H. 71 

apprehension, that the perusal of the naked scriptures 
might operate unfavorably to particular views, would be 
construed as an admission, that those views are not to be 
obviously derived from the bible. 

" Whatever may be the language of the constitution, 
the civilization of the age is derived from Christianity ; and 
the institutions of the country are instinct with the same 
spirit, and it pervades the laws, as it does the manners of 
the people." This sentiment, Avhich does equal honor to 
the head and heart that dictated it, points out the origin, 
as well as the means of perpetuating our inestimable priv- 
ileges. The bible is the corner stone ; yea, rather, the 
entire 'platform of all our national institutions. The man, 
therefore, that would withhold this blessed book from the 
people, especially from the rising generation of this favored 
republic, is not an American patriot. Though he may be 
fed from its soil, and breathe its air, his allegiance is held 
in another clime, and his patriotism is that of a foreign 
country. The free institutions of America were learned 
from the bible ; and every true patriot, whatever may be 
his religious or political sympathies, is equally interested 
in disseminating the inspired rule of his faith, and the 
sacred charter of his rights and privileges. 

"It is a popular maxim, and when rightly understood, a 
correct one, that " Charity bcghis at home.'" The various 
relations of social life are so constituted as to manifest the 
divine design, that every individual should commence the 
work of benevolence and mercy, in that circle, in which 
Providence has cast his lot. And it is on this point, 
Fellow-Citizens, that we wish more especially, to fix your 
attention. Our own rapidly increasmg village, which has 
nearly doubled its population, within the last four years, is 
an object worthy of your deepest solicitude. It is already 
the embryo of a great city, and small as its territorial 
limits are, it is destined, at no very distant period, to be 
occupied by 100,000 immortal beings. And, we beseech 
you to consider, that the influences, which are now brought 
to bear on this infant community, will stamp the character 
of its future inhabitants. A tremendous responsibilty, 
then, rests on its present occupants. Situated as we are, 



72 HISTORY OF 

in the shadow of the great metropolis, whose overflowing 
wickedness is pouring in upon us a much broader stream, 
than all the Christian benevolence it contains can coun- 
teract or control, there is an urgent necessity for the 
concentration of all the piety and philanthropy and 
patriotism among us, to stem the torrent of foreign demor- 
alization that is constantly swelling the flood of our home- 
bred guilt. And while we rejoice in the various influences 
for good, which have already been brought to bear on the 
community, we should not forget, that all their efficacy 
depends on the superior influence, which the bible reveals. 
This must be superadded, or all other measures will fail. 

"In supplying the destitute of our own village, not only 
funds are requisite, but personal labor must be incurred. 
The destitute must be sought out, and, in many instances, 
the supply carried to their doors. Here is no room for any 
other emulation, than to provoke each other to love and 
good works, in so holy a cause. 

"But, while * Charity always begin<; at home,' true 
cJiarity never confine?, itself there. Her sphere is the 
world, and she is never satisfied with making a single 
community happy. While, therefore, it is our duty to 
begin this work at home, we are solemnly bound to do 
our part, in supplying the still more destitute of our 
country and a benighted world. The work is vast — much 
greater in the detail, than we are apt to regard it in the 
aggregate. In addition to the thousands of families in 
the United States now destitute of the scriptures, that 
number is daily increasing in a ratio that is appalling to 
contemplate. The annual accession to our population, 
principally by natural increase, is at the rate of 4 1-3 per 
cent., which, on the present amount, gives 2,000 souls ^er 
day. In a corresponding proportion, more than 145,000 
families are constituted every year. To supply each of 
these with a bible, would require more than one-half of 
all the copies issued by our national institution from year 
to year. And yet a destitute world remains to be supplied 
with the "Word of Life. There is, therefore, a demand for 
immediate, unremitting and constantly increasing exertion, 
to keep pace with the accumulating magnitude of 'the work." 



WILLUMSBURGH. 73 

Its officers were the following gentlemen : 
Rev. N. S. Prime, President; Andrew Dickinson 
David Kilgour,jr., Thos. B. Maybee, H. V. Raymond' 
Henry Mc Kinstry. and Thos. N. Ayres, Vice Presidents ' 
Andrew C. Benedict, Treasurer; Paul J". Fish, Correi- 
pondi7ig Secretary; Jonathan S. Burr, Recording Sec- 
retary. ° 

^ Williamsburgh Tract Society, (auxiliary to the Amer- 
ican Tract Society,) was organized May 14th, 1839. 

The first officers were, Rev. N. N. Whiting, President - 
Rev Mr. Henderson, Vice Pres. ; Geo. R. Miller, Secfy'- 
i. JNl. Ayres, Treasurer. 

The number of districts the first year - - 30 

Number of tracts distributed monthly - - - 700 
^ The Society was re-organized and its present constitu- 
tion adopted in May, 1845. 

The present number of districts is - - . 300 
Number of families about - - . . g qOO 
Of which are German, about - - . - 'lOO 
" French " - - - - 50 

The present officers of the society are, Rev. Mr. Lock- 
wood, President; E. N. Colt, M. D., Vice Pres.; Wm 
k erris, Secretary and Treasurer. 

WILLIAMSBURGH DISPENSARY. 

,,..^!^.^^ ^^^^ ^'''''^'^ ^"^ ""^^ readers that the population of 
Williamsburgh has increased during the last ten years with 
very great, if not unprecedented, rapidity. A very con- 
siderable proportion of this increase is by the poor, both of 
our own country as well as by emigration from Europe, 
who seek a residence here because of its near access to the 
metropolis and the smaller expense of living. Although 
labor be plentiful, and wages for the laborer comparatively 
high, yet the poor man can lay up but little of his income, 
and when he is overtaken with sickness, he must suffer' 
unless the benevolent hand of relief be extended to him,' 
ihe attendance of a physicitm and the medicine required 
soon exhaust all his resources, and if restored to health, he 
returns to his labor dispirited with the burden of a debt 
which he could not avoid contracting, and which he sees 



74 HISTORY OF 

no prospect of being able to pay. If that attendance, and 
tliat medicine had been supphed to him without charge, as 
he returned to work with renewed health, he would have 
been freed from the carking care of debt, and could with 
increased vigor have provided for his family. 

Considerations like these influenced the minds of a 
number of the citizens of Williamsburgh, and led to the 
inquiry, what can be done to relieve such cases'? This 
question proposed from one to another, led to a meeting for 
the interchange of views, and to endeavor to give a prac- 
tical answer to the enquiry. The meeting was held in 
the Trustees' Hall, on the thirty-first of January, 1851, 
and after due consideration it was 

Resolved, " That it be expedient to organize a Wil- 
liamsburgh Dispensary."^ 

A short time after this another meeting was held, when 
a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the first 
election for trustees was held on the 10th of February, 
18ol. Shortly afterwards the board, proceeding under the 
general law for the incorporation of benevolent societies, 
obtained a charter for the Williamsburgh Dispensary on 
the eleventh of March, following. 

The report of the Treasurer, contained in the " First 
Annual Report," shows a receipt from the State, granted 
by the Legislature, of $250 ; an appropriation from the 
village government, of $180 ; by annual subscriptions 
and donations, $382,62 ; and the proceeds of the 
concert, given by the Grammar School, in behalf of the 
Dispensary, $103,57, making in all, $916,19. 

The Apothecary's report shows the number treated, 
between the first of September 1851, and the 
first of February, 1852, - - - . - 874 

Males, 352 

Females, - - 522 

874 

Patients treated at the Dispensary, - - 822 
*' " •' their Houses, - - 52 

874 



* See First Annual Report of the Board of Trustees. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. yg 

Number born in Ireland, - - . - 573 

" " United States, - - ooa 

" "England, - . . . . ^3 

Uermany, . . . ,r. 

" " Scotland, - . - - 3 

Number of prescriptions, - . j 4u 
The Dispensary is located on the corner' of Fifth and 
South Fn-st streets, a very central and favorable ocation 
for the purpose^ It was opened for the dispensatC 
of medicine and naedical aid, without char<.e to he 
poor, on the first day of September, 1851. The above 
reports were made from the time the institution wis 
opened up to February 1, 1852, which was five montTis 
From the large amount of suflering relieved in tirshort 
time, no one can doubt the necessity of such a be evolen 
organization in our city. It is with much pleasure that 
we record the following names, as pioneers in tMs Ai an 
thropic, and christian enterprise ' 

Office.^ for the year 1851._Samuel Groves, President ■ 
Jonn J. Hicks, Timothy Coffin, Tfe PresidnfsJoli 
H.Adams, SecTetary ; Daniel Maujer, Treasurer^ ^ 

rr^stees.-Samuel Groves, John J. Hicks, Timothy 
Coitin, Joseph H. Adams, Daniel Mauier Richarrl T„n 
Eyck,Thos^C. Moore, Thns. J. Tan Sant W F Keimy 
Downnig |V^ Graves, Charles Miller, John F. G,e S' 
Levi W. UlTord. John Hamilton, Horace Thayer, Nath™: 
lel Briggs, Lev. Darbee, Jas. D. Sparkman Chas T 
Connsh William Morgan, John Broach, Chas.' F Tuttl^' 
Z i,.-,^'"'".?-"'^^' ^'^"'-^^ Reynolds, Mor^ran j' 

Rhees, M^aiiam Wall, Chauncey A. Lay, Thomas m' 
Clark, Henry E. Ripley, Thomas Greene. ^ ' 

TODEPENDENT ORDEH OF ODD FELLOWS. 

The name Orfrf Fello^os, was first applied to a party or 
society, which was organized by George lY, and ffew of 
h.s associates, while he was ' Prince of Wales Thl 
convivial fraternity had no object in view beTond spo 
and a„„, Their secrets of initiation, &c, were 

iept private, until one of its members divulged al! 



76 HISTORY OF 

secresy to Carlyle of London, who published the whole 
ludicrous affkir, to the great amusement of the public. It 
will be remembered that there is no connection, whatever, 
other than by name, between the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, as it now is, and that Society organized by 

the Prince of Wales. c .^. r^ a 

Amon<^ the principal and leading objects oi the Order, 
are the cultivation of those cardinal virtues. Friendship 
Love and Truth— to relieve the needy, visit the sick, an^ 
bury the dead. .. . .. rpi 

The titles of the officers of a Lodge are, 1st, The 
Noble Grand ; 2d, Vice Grand ; 3d, Secretary ; 4th, Treas- 
urer • ath. Warden ; 6th, Conductor ; Tth, Outside Guar- 
dian • 8th, Inside Guardian ; 9th, Right-hand Supporter 
of the Noble Grand; 10th, Left-hand Supporter of the 
Noble Grand; 11th, Right-hand Supporter of the Vice 
Grand; 12th, Left-hand supporter of the Yiee Grand; 
13th Rio-ht-hand Scene Supporter; 14th, Lett-hand 
Scene Supporter. No person under twenty-one. nor 
over forty-nine years of age, is eligible to membership ; nor 
is any one whose health is so impaired that he cannot 
attend to his business. The other requisites for candidates 
are, that they should have a firm belief in the existence 
of God ; should have a good moral character, and should 
have soma respectable means of support. 

There are five degrees conferred m the Lodge, which 
are called the White, Pink, Royal Blue, Green and 
Scarlet Each degree has its peculiar initiatory ceremo- 
nies and signs, by which those possessing it recognize each 
other under the most foreign circumstances. These signs 
together with the password, form the principal secrets oi 
the Order. To receive a farther disclosure than this, our 
readers must become Odd Fellows. ^ 

K^n^s County Lodge, No. 45, was instituted January 
12th 1841 It meets every Wednesday evening in Liberty 
Hall,' corner of North First and Ninth streets. The 
present number of members is 90. 

Crusaders' Lodge, No. 61, was mstituted February 
8th, 1842. It meets every Thursday evening at Liberty 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 77 

Hall corner of North First and Ninth streets. The present 
number of members is about 40. 

^ The Washington Degree Lodge, No. 14, M^as next 
instituted February 15th, 1,843 ; and meets in the above- 
named p ace, the first and third Fridays in each month. 
Ihe number of members is 50. 

Wyandaiik Lodge, No, 336, /. O. O. F., was insti- 
tuted October 26th, 1847. We believe its charter bears 
date,_ October 22d, 1 847. This Lodge meets every Tuesday 
evenmg, on the corner of Grand and Fifth streets. The 
number of members is 90. 

Mou7it Pisgah Encampnent, No. 26, was instituted 
at Jamaica, L. L, March 9th, 1843, and removed to 
W illiamsburgh, August 8th, 1851. It meets every second 
and iourth Friday in each m.onth, in Liberty Hall, on the 
corner of North First and Ninth streets. Its number of 
members is 54. 

J^^i^liam Tell Lodge was instituted May 8th, 1848 
Ihis Lodge meets every Tuesday evening at Liberty Hall 
location as above-mentioned. It is composed chiefly of 
Irormans, and the "working" and business of the Lodo-e 
done in the German language. The number of membe'^-s 
IS 120. 

Pamanac Lodge, No. 402, was organized on the first 
of January, 1850. It numbers about 100 members. The 
Lodge meets everyWednesday evening at the corner of 
b^rand and Fifth streets. 

Evening Star Lodge was instituted September 30th, 
1850 It meets every Monday evening in Liberty Hall, 
Its present number of members is 51. 



*7 



T8 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FERRIES. 



Situated as Williamsburgli is, its growth, and prosperity 
must mainly depend on its connection, and means of 
intercourse with the city of New York. As, therefore, the 
ferries are of paramount interest, and vital importance to 
all, individually and collectively,we shall deem it our duty 
to give them a notice in this " sketch " It is difficult to 
arrive at the exact date of the first ferry hetween New 
York and Williamsburgh, from the fact that persons were 
carried across at intervals, long before the identity of a 
ferry was acknowledged. The slow and gradual increase 
of population on this side the river, and the small amount 
of business transacted between this vicinity and New York, 
did not for many years warrant a regular ferry, although 
boats wer^ usually kept in readiness to convey passengers 
across. 

Perhaps we should be safe in saying that a regular ferry 
w^as established as early as 1797, by a Mr. Hazard, who 
resided at the foot of Grand street, New York, and who 
rowed passengers from that point to what is now the foot 
of Grand street, Williamsburgh. At this time, the houses 
on the New York side, in the vicinity of the ferry, were 
very scattering ; and where extensive blocks of buildings, 
and a large population now exist, was then to a great 
extent, open fields of unbroken grounds. What is now 
known as Williamsburgh, consisted then of farms fronting 
the river, and extending eastward. There were eight or 
ten of these farms in all, the two principal of which 
belonged to Mr. Miller and Mr. Titus. It is a fact worthy 
of notigo, that scarcely one surviving name of the first 
families is to be found. We know of but two, the one Mrs. 
Miller, (now one hundred years old,) and we believe there 
is a Titus living in California, descended from the same 
family. T^he others are obliterate. 



WILLIAMSBUEGH. 79 

As the name of Mr. John Morrell (father of Mr. John 
Morrell, South Ninth street,) is intimately and honorably 
connected with the first ferries, we shall notice some of the 
causes, which, by his enterprise, led to the permanent 

oarr! m' a/^ fi ''^"^^' ^y^tematic ferry communi- 
cation. Mr. Morrell came here about 1804, and purchased 
a farm consisting of thirty acres, lying on both sides of 
Grand street. Shortly after his settlement, he opened 
(xrand street through the centre of his farm, which 
extended to about Sixth street, and started a ferry from 
Its foot, which place he called MorrelVs Point. In a 
short time an amicable understanding existed between 
Mr. Hazard and Mr. Morrell, both ran their row boats, the 
one from New York, the other from Morrell's Point, and 
each sought for all the business he could obtain Mdthout 
infringement on the other's rights. It may be amusing to 
state that Mr Morrell kept a hom at his ferry, for the 
convenience of passengers, who, when they wanted to be 
ferried o er the wave," would give the venrir/al sicrnal 
which was immediately answered by the agriculturist, at 
the expense of his plough, hoe, or sickle, as the season 
might happen to be. It ^ay be well here to notice, that 
the territory along the river between North Second street 
and the Wallabout, was called " Yorkton." About this 
time a gentleman by the nam^ of Woodhull, purchased 
the land on North Second street, established a ferry from 
the foot of that street to Rivington street. New York 
called It the " Williamsburgh Ferry." in honor of a friend! 
(as we have before noticed.) which name was applied to 
all the territory north of North Second street, as far as 
the creek. 

Mr. Morrell having commenced his ferry from the foot 
of Crrand street, and being determined not to be outdone 
improved his boats, increased his accommodations, and 
Tendered every facility which circumstances then de- 
xnanded. Tire competition carried on between the two 
ferries^ was unprecedented in the "History of Williams- 
Ourgli. That this spirited emulation worked favorably for 
the growth of the place, no one will doubt. 

The North Second street ferry, after considerable loss on 



80 - HISTORY OF' 

both sides, was united with the Grand street ferry, which 
continued the only one for many years. By this time it 
was very much improved, row and sail-boats were ex- 
changed for horse-boats, stables erected, and ample 
exchange of horses always in readiness. Horse-boats 
were continued until the first village charter was obtained, 
in 1827, when one of these boats was metamorphosed into 
" steam power," and very significantly called the " Eclipse-" 
This boat was kept running for some considerable time, in 
connection with the old horse boats, which were afterwards 
exchanged for steam power exclusively. These boats 
were used for many years, and continued after they were- 
quite unsafe for passengers to risk their lives in them, 
in consequence of their rottenness, and inability to with- 
stand the slightest collision. 

Perhaps in no particular is the improvement of the 
age more apparent, than in steamboat accommodations, 
and especially is this applicable to the Williamsburgh 
ferries. 

The village paper [Gazette) in those days M^as filled 
with many "mad denunciations, and satirical jests," which 
frequently appeared in "poetic missives," as well as in 
"prose run mad." 

We shall close our sketch of Grand street ferry, by 
giving an extract of one of those poetic eflusions, which 
will not only show our readers the state of the ferry at 
the time it was written, much better than we are able to 
do ourselves, but will probably afford them some little 
amusement in its perusal, if it should not excite their 
risibility. A greater effect than this, we do not anticipate. 

Grand Street Feny Accommodation! 

THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT ! ! 

I sang, erewhile, of village stock, 

And sunken lots dug down; 
Our ferries now I'll give a shock. 

And ring about the town. 

Inspire me, O ye tuneful Nme, 

To sing in doggerel verse, 
The hulks on the East Ptiver brine, , 

And their exploits rehearse. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. 81 

Those leaky scows, stuffd with old rags, 

Well mix'd with tar and feathers, 
Of course are proof against the " snags ;" 

Adapted to all weathers. 

"Would you be "ferried o'er the wave," 

Yclep'd by some the Styx ? 
Or would you choose a floating grave ? 

Apply to Captain Hicks ! 

Commuters furnish'd at wholesale ; 

Footpads, four cents a head ; 
To t'other world they send a mail. 

At least, it i^ so said. 

Each hulk contains two whiskey tanks, 

To keep the mass a-floating. 
In case some of the rotten planks 

Give way when they've done rotting. 

Conveyances for man and brute, 

With filth up to the knees, — ■ 
Come on ! why don't you all commute, 

And take the ocean breeze ? 

Old "Noah's Ark" lies at the dock. 

Too rotten even to burn ; 
In a late gale an awful shock 

Her insides out did turn. 

Her smoke-pipe, how it stoops with age, 

All rusty and forlorn, 
Built when "fast crabs" were all the rage, 

Ere Noah himself was born. 

^uch a stiff knock perhaps you think 

Would past recovery spoil her ; 
You wonder why she didn't sink, 

Or burst her crazy boiler. 

Pshaw ! every time she gets a knock 

She'll go so much the longer ; 
And her nine hundred ninetieth shock 

Will make her so much stronger. 

You've heard how she one day last week 
Brought up with a "round turn;" 



8^ HISTORY OF 

The thump made her old limbers creak 
And split her through the stern ! 

The crew gave a tremendous yell ; 

The cattle snorted loud ; 
The tottering smoke-pipe, as it fell, 

Sent up a pitchy cloud ! 

'Twas thought her mortal race was run; 

But strange, not less than true, 
The breach that made two boats of one 

They soldered up with glue ! 

A gander, sailing, o'er the sound, 
Was hailed the other day ! 

The pilot told him to "Wheel round ! 
And keep out of the way !" 

The gander, by the billows rock'd, 
Sail'd on in scornful pride; 

They met ! the dread concussion, knock'd 
A hole in the boat's side ! 

All hands instanter did prepare 
Straight overboard to jump, 

But two, with diligence and care, 
Betook them to the pump. 

On shore a week they let her lie 

Before she did set sail ; 
Bottom side up, all high and dry. 

Just like a stranded whale ! 

The crew, Avith zeal not to be balk'd, 
Did every thing they could ; 

The hole with tar and feathers calk'd, 
Then plaster'd her with mud ! ! 

Wisely they mean to make or break, 
In a great mud-scow match ! 

Indeed, there is no doubt they'll make 
Unparallel'd dispatch ! 

A speculation is afloat 

To place her in commission; 

A small expense might put the boat 
In excellent condition ! 



WliLLIAMSBURGH. 93 

Under her vet'ran commodore, 

She's off to the North Pole, 
The lower regions to explore, 

By way of Symmes' Hole ! 

On a discovery she will go 

Down to the Land of Sin, 
Touching at all the towns below, 

The natives to take in ! 

Their usual shrewdness they will show 
In taking observation : ' 

Their object is to get, you know, 
Another ferry station ! 

If they succeed, we think they may •. 

Defy all competition ; 
An endless lease no doubt will pay 

For which they will petition. ' 

The ^^' Pleasure Nuisance Humbug Line-' 

I think could then afford, 
To start with passengers at nine. 

For foul-pence and their board ! 

Look &ut ! look out ! ye mud-scow boys ! 

^ We've got you on the hip ! 
We'll make considerable noise, 
And meaji to have Peck Slip ! 

'Tis all the privilege I ask. 

To cross, "four cents and found," 
A-straddle an old whiskey cask, 

So nice, and large, and round 



All hail your barges ! hail their crew ! 
Hail Grand Street Ferry Co. ! 

Hail all your scows, both old and new 

Before the breeze they go ! ^ jy 

The Peck Slip Ferry, which was established in 1836 
has undoubtedly contributed much more to the growth of 
WiUiamsburgh the last few years, than the first named 
ihis ferry has been the means of introduein<r the mo«^t 
i-espectable class of citizens, both mercantile and profes- 
sionaL The easy access to the business part of New- York 
city by this communication, the good accommodations 



84 



HISTORY or 



whicli the boats present, together with the ^ehghtful sa 1 
are irresistible attractions to those who study the health 
and happiness of themselves and families. 

The Houston street Ferry was erected m 1840, and 
proved a great convenience to those in employ at the dry 
kocks, and other works in that part of the city. The 
STvision avenue Ferry, started m 1851, proved a great 
convenience to the inhabitants in the southern part of 
Williamsburgh, who, previously in crossing to Grand 
street New York, had either a long walk on this side the 
river,'or a still longer one on the other side 

We believe we shall have the pleasure to record a filth 
ferry by another year. A project is under way of establish- 
in/a ferry from the foot of South Eleventh street, to that of 
cftharine street. New York, which we hope will be 
Ruccessfullv carried out. The competition would tend to 
~oSed improvement of the Peck Slip Ferry, as 
well as add to the increase and prosperity of our young 
city. 

STAGES. 

The first omnibus was started in the* year 1840 by one 
Mr Williams, a painter, who resided in South Pifth street 
near Twelfth. Unlike the systematic management oi the 
present lines of stages, the first omnibus was driven pro- 
miscuously through the different streets, and stragghng 
pedestrians picked up and conveyed to or from tne Peck 
Slip Ferry, which was the business focus oi this new 
enterprise. Mr. Williams continued the rtinning ot his 
omnibus about six months, when not having sufiicient 
patronage to defray the incurred expenses, he abandoned 
the enterprise, and thus the inhabitants of Williamsburgh 
were again left to their own traveling resources, feince 
then lines of stages have been successfully and profitably 
run through Grand, First, South Fourth, and South Seventh 
streets ; and now, for stage communication, we are second 
to no place, commensurate in population. Lmes ol stages 
are runnin- to East New York, Fulton and South Ferries, 
Brooklyn, Bushwick, Maspeth, Newtown, Greenpoint, 
Astoria and Flushing. 



WILLIAMSBURGH. gg 

of tho^nf"'""'*^? """"'^ '"° *" '■'^^"'''''l" consideration 
of those of cur fellow-c.tizens who may have been in any 
raeasure shghted, for want of fuller information on our part 

7 L'tritf ' r'"'™- '^%!''''' '">' P-™-ed torsive 
a just ubute of praise to all whose names mi?ht be 
houorabb' mentioned in connection with WHliamsburgh yet 
we humbly hope that at some future time these defieiJn- 
c.es will be supplied, and a truthful and faithful record 
obtained of all that is worthy of preservation 



V' 



CONTENTS. 

Chap. I. — Discovery of Long Island ; Intercourse with the Natives ; Greo- 
graphical JJescription of Long Island ; Soil ; Temperature ; Geographical 
Features ; Indians — their principal Tribe — their Heligious Opinions — their 
Reduction ; the Purchase and Disposition of Lands on Long Island ; 
Agreement with a "Schoolmaster" in 1G82; Town of Bushwick; Ex- 
tracts from Town Records ; First Settlement of Bushwick ; its Boundaries 

set forth, Pages 9—17 

Chap. II. — Williamsburgh — Derivation of its Name ; the Local Advantages 
it Possesses ; City Improvements yet Necessary ; a Brief Review of its Im- 
provements since 1835; Organization of the First Churches; the Estab- 
lishment of Peck Slip Ferry ; Prison Ships at the Wallabout 18 — 22 

CuAP. III. — Commencement of the Village ; First Village Charter ; Second 
Village Charter; Charter for Docks; l^ames of all the Principal Village 
Oliicers from the First Charter, 1827, up to the Enforcement of the City 
Charter, 18-32; Election of First City Officers; Mayor A. J. Berry; the 

Arduous Labors of the Mayor and Common Council, 23 — 34 

Chap. IV. — Religious Aspect of Williamsburgh ; Number of Churches ; G-ov. 
Nicoll's Religious Intoleration, and Oppression of the Dutch Settlers of the 
Town of Bushwick; Imposition and Collection of Tax for the first Minis- 
ter's Salary ; First Bushwick Church ; the Williamsburgh Churches in the 

Order of their Respective Dates of Organization, 35 — 51 

Chap. V. — Literary Character of Williamsburgh; Publications written 
Here ; a History of Long Island, by N. S. Prime ; Works of Mr. A. Dickin- 
son ; " The Wreath of Wild Flower.s," by Mr. J. Milton Stearns, together 
with Numerous Miscellaneous Writings ; Works of John B. Finlay, Ph. D., 
fee, &c., fee; Williamsburgh Newspapers; "The Williamsburgh 

Lyceum," 52 — 63 

Chap. VI. — Public Education; Want of Interest at first in the Subject of 
Public Schools ; the first Plot of Ground deeded ; Its Location ; First 
Building; the Increase in Numbers and in Usefulness under the Manage- 
ment of Mr. Wm. H. Butler ; Division, in 1843, into School Districts ; In- 
crease of Scholars from 1838 to 1852 ; Provision for Private Instruction ; 
Character of the Williamsburgh Private Schools; the Principal Male 

Schools ; the Female Schools, 64 — 69 

Chap. Vli. — Bible Society ; Its Organization, Object, and Character, with 
Names of First Officers ; Tract Society, Organization, First Officers, Re- 
organization, Number of Families supplied, &c. ; Williamsburgh Dispen- 
sary ; Motives for Organization ; First Meeting ; Organization ; Treasurer's 
Report for the first Five Months ; Apothecary's Report for the Same Pe- 
riod ; Location ; First Officers ; Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; First 
Society of Odd Fellows; Officers Requiied in a Lodge; Degrees; Wil- 
liamsburgh Lodges, 70 — 76 

Chap. VIII. — Description of the First Ferry by Row and Sail Boats ; these 
Boats exchanged for Horse Boats ; Steam used 1827 ; Verses descriptive 
of the Unsafe Condition of the first Steamboats when becoming old and 
rotten, by A. D. ; the Beneficial Effects of Peck Slip Ferry on the Increase 
of Williamsburgh ; the Erection of Houston street Ferry in 1840 ; Division 
avenue in 1851 ; the Project of another Ferry. First Stages, their In- 
crease, &c., 77 — 85 



Citji €i)axitx. 



AN ACT 
TO INCORPORATE THE CITY OF WILLIAMSBURGH, 



Passed April 7, 1851— Tliree-Fifths being present. 



The People of the State of New- York, Represented in 
Senate and AiiSembly, do eiiact ai follows, : 

TITLE I. 

BOUNDARIES AND CIVIL DIVISIONS. 

Section 1. All that part of the County of Kings, at present 
known as the village of Williamsburgh, and which is bounded 
northerly by the East river and township of Biishwick, east- 
erly by the township of Bushwick, southerly by the city of 
Brooklyn, and westerly by the East river, shall hereafter be 
one of the cities of this state, and known by the name of the 
^' City of Williamsburgh." 

^ 2. The citizens of this state, from time to time, inhabi- 
tants within the aforesaid limits, shall be a corporation under 
the name and style of the " city of Williamsburgh," and may 
sue and be sued, complain and defend in any court, make and 
use a common seal, and alter it at pleasure, and may receive 
by gift, grant, devise, bequest, or purchase, and hold and con- 
vey such real and personal estate as the purposes of the cor- 
poration may require. 

\ 3. The said city shall be divided into three w'ards, as fol- 
lows : All that part thereof, lying west of the centre of Union 



88 THE CITY CHARTER. 

Evenue, and south of the centre of Grand street, shall be the 
first ward ; the part thereof lying west of the centre of Union 
avenue, and north of the centre of Grand street, shall be the 
second ward ; and all that part of said city lying east of the 
centre of Union avenue, shall be the third ward. 

^ 4. The said several wards, except as otherwise provided 
m this act, shall be considered, and are hereby declared to be 
towns of the county of Kings. 

TITLE II. 

OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. 

Section 1. The legislative power of said corporation shall 
be vested in a board of aldermen. The said board, or a quo- 
rum thereof, when duly assembled, shall form the common 
council. 

{ 2. The board of aldermen shall consist of four aldermen 
to be elected from each w-ard, each of whom shall, at the time 
of his election, be an elector of the ward in which he shall be 
chosen, and shall have been a resident of the city for at least 
two years immediately previous thereto. 

^ 3. The board of aldermen first elected under and by virtue 
of this act shall, at its first meeting, be divided into two 
classes, one of which shall go oiit of ofiice in each year. Two 
aldermen of each ward shall form one class, and the other 
aldermen shall form the other class. The mayor shall de- 
termine by lot, in open board, the aldermen who shall com- 
pose the different classes, and the respective terms of office of 
each of said classes, certify the same in writing, and file it 
witli the clerk of the board, who shall enter the same on the 
journal. 

§ 4. The first of said classes of the board of aldermen shall 
-hold office for one year, but after the expiration of the said 
year the term of office of the aldermen elected for said class 
shall be two years. The second class shall hold office two 
years ; one alderman from each ward of the said second class 
shall be a member of the board of supervisors of the county 
of Kings, with all the powers and obligations of a supervisor 
of said county, and shall receive the same compensation as is 
now allowed, or may hereafter be allowed by law for such 
services. The term of office of such aldermen as supervisors 
shall commence on the first Monday of January succeeding 
their election, and shall continue for two years thereafter, 

^ 5. The members of the common council shall, unless re- 
moved for cause, hold office until their places are supplied by 



THE CITY CHARTER. 89 

the election of new members, who shall have qualified in the 
manner provided by this act. In case any alderman shall, 
after his election, or during his term of office, remove out of 
the ward in which he' shall have been elected, his office shall 
be deemed vacant, and he shall no longer act as an alderman. 

^ 6. A majority of the aldermen elected shall constitute a 
quorum; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, 
and compel the attendance of absent members. 

^ 7. The common council shall annually elect a president 
from its own body, and, in his absence, a president for the 
time being, choose officers, appoint its times and places of 
meeting, determine the rules of its own proceeding, be the 
sole judges of the qualifications of its members, keep a jour- 
nal of its proceedings, and may punish or expel a member for 
disorderly conduct, or a violation of its rules, or declare his 
seat vacated by reason of absence, provided such absence be 
continued for the space of two months, but no expulsion shall 
take place except by vote of two-thirds of all the members 
elected, nor until the delinquent member shall have had an 
opportunity to be heard in his defence. 

§ 8. Every ordinance, or resolution of the common council, 
shall, before it takes effect, be presented, duly certified, to the 
mayor. If he approve of it, he shall sign it; in which case 
it shall take effect immediately thereafter, unless otherwise 
ordered ; if he do not approve of it, he shall return it with 
his objections, and file it with the city clerk within ten days 
after he received it ; the said board shall, at its first regular 
meeting thereafter, enter the objections at large in its journal; 
after which it shall proceed to reconsider the same ; and if 
two-thirds of all the members elected shall then agree to pass 
the same, it shall take effect as a law; but in every such case 
the votes shall be taken by ayes and noes, and entered on the 
journal ; and if such ordinance, or resolution, shall not be re- 
turned by the mayor, within ten days after he has received it, 
it shall become a law in like manner as if he had signed it. 

^ 9. The common council shall, at least once a year, not 
more than thirty nor less than twenty days before the annual 
election, publish in such manner as they shall designatCj a 
full statement of all the receipts and expenditures of every 
description for the fiscal year preceding such statement, in- 
cluding all the moneys which have passed through the hands 
of the comptroller, or treasitrer, for any purpose' Vvhatever, 
together with the different sources of city revenue, the amount 
received under each, the several appropriations made by the 
board of finance, the objects for which the same were made, 
#8 



90 THE CITY CHARTEE. 

and the sums expended from each ; also any moneys borrowed 
upon the credit of the city, whether by temporary loans or by 
the issue of bonds, the terms upon w^iich they were obtained, 
the authority under which they were borroAved, and the pur- 
poses to which they were applied, and how much of the same 
or other city indebtedness, has been repaid, and by what 
means. The statement shall also include a detailed account 
of the city property, existing debts of every description, and 
the condition of the sinking fund, if any, with all such other 
information as may be necessary for a full understanding of 
the financial concerns of the city. 

§ 10. The common council shall hold stated meetings, com- 
mencing on the first Monday of January • but the mayor, or 
in his absence any three aldermen (each representing different 
wards), may call special meetings by notice to each of the 
members of said council seryed persoiially or left at his usual 
place of abode. 

§ 11. The common council shall have power within said 
city to make, establish, publish and modify, amend or repeal 
ordinances, rules, regulations and by-laws for the following 
purposes : 

1. To manage and regulate the finances and property, real 
and personal, of the city. 

2. To prescribe and define the duties of all the officers ap- 
pointed under this act not otherwise prescribed by law. 

3. To establish and regulate a day and night police, and fire 
departments of the city, within the limits prescribed by law,, 
and to define and regulate the duties and powers of firemen 
and policemen, and to light the streets of the city. 

4. To suppress and restrain disorderly houses, and houses of 
ill fame, gaming tables, ball alleys, the playing of cards or 
games of chance in places where liquor is sold to be drank, to 
destroy all instruments or devices employed in gaming, to re- 
strain and punish vagrants, mendicants, street beggars and 
common prostitutes, and to prevent any riot, disturbance or 
disorderly assemblages. 

5. To prohibit or regulate the exhibition of common show- 
men, or of curiosities or other public exhibitions tending to 
create or encourage idleness or immorality. 

6. To regulate the wharves, piers and slips, owned by the 
city, and direct the affairs thereof. 

7. To license aijd regulate cartmen, porters, hack, cab, 
omnibus, stage and truck owners and drivers, and all car- 
riages and vehicles used for the transportation of passengers or 
merchandise, goods, or articles of any kind, surveyors, com- 



THE CITY CHARTER. 91 

mon criers, liawkers, pecUers, pawn-brokers, junk-shop keep- 
ers sweeps and scavengers, and fix the rates of compensation 
to he allowed to them, and to prohibit unlicensed persons from 
acting m either of such capacities, or to authorize the mayor 
to grant such licenses, and to require the owners to mark such 
carnages and vehicles in such manner as the common council 
shall designate. 

&. To locate, regulate and remove slaughter houses • estab- 
lish and regulate public markets; license and regulate butch- 
ers ; designate the places, times, and manner of selling meats, 
hsh fruits and vegetables; and to prohibit persons from sellin- 
without license. ° 

9. To prescribe the places for selling hay, straw, and other 
articles from wagons or other vehicles. 

10. To regulate the burial of the dead, prohibit interments 
within the city, or within such limits as it may iirescribe 
purchase lands for public burial places,, direct the keepin- and 
returning of bills of mortality, and to establish such regula- 
tion for conveying the dead through the streets of the said 
city, as the health, quiet and good order of the citv may in 
their opinion require, or to prohibit the same entirely if 
necessary. •^' 

1 1 • To prevent and remove obstructions and incumber ances 
in and upon all wharves, streets and public places, and the 
ttirowmg of dirt, filth or rubbish on or from the same into the 
J^ater adjoining, to direct and regulate the planting, rearing 
trimming and preserving of ornamental and shade trees in the 
streets, parks and grounds of the city, to enforce the removal 
ot snow, ice or dirt fram sidewalks and gutters, and to direct 
the sweeping and cleaning of streets by the person ownin'^ or 
occupying the premises fronting thereon. 

12. To regulate or prohibit the keeping of cows, swine and 
other animals. 

13. To restrain and regulate the running at large of cattle, 
horses, sheep, swme, geese, or any animals; and to authorize 
and regulate the impounding and sale of the same for the 
penalty incurred, and costs of proceedings, and to pass ordi- 
nances authorizing the destruction of dogs. 

14. To abate, destroy and remove nuisances. 

15. To regulate or prohibit swimming or bathin'^ in the 
waters of or bounding the city. ° 

16. To regulate or prohibit the flying of kites, or any other 
practice having a tendency to frighten animals, or to annoy 
persons passing m the streets or on the sidewalks in said city. 

17. To prevent horse racing and immoderate driving in said 



92 THE CITY CHARTER. 

city, and to authorize the stopping of any one who shall be 
guilty of so doing. 

18. To prohibit or regulate the keeping and conveying of 
gunpowder and other dangerous materials, and the use of 
candles and lights in barns, stables and other buildings. 

19. To establish an assize of bread and regulate the sale 
thereof. 

20. To regulate and restrain runners for boats, stages, rail- 
roads, taverns and other houses, and the running of engines 
and cars through said city. 

21. To prevent or regulate the ringing and tolling of bells, 
blowing of horns and crying of goods and other things in said 
city. 

22. To regulate the compensation for the services of any 
officer of said city, or other person employed by him for 
searching the books, files or records of said city, for private 
persons, which compensation shall be paid into the city trea- 
sury. 

23. To regulate victualing houses or cellars, or gardens and 
other places where ardent spirits or other intoxicating drinks, 
may be sold, and to prohibit the keeping of the same, except 
by persons duly licensed. 

24. To regulate the construction of chimneys, and to com- 
pel the sweeping thereof; to prevent the setting up or con- 
structing of stoves, boilers, ovens or other things, in such a 
manner as to be dangerous ; to prohibit the deposit of ashes 
in unsafe places; to authorize any city officer or person or 
persons whom they may designate for that purpose, to enter 
upon and inspect any place or places for the purpose of as- 
certaining whether the same is or are in a safe condition, and 
if not, to direct, or cause the same to be made so ; to regulate 
the carrying on of manufactories dangerous in causing or pro- 
moting fires; to regulate or prohibit the sale or use of fire- 
works or fire-arms in said city ; to require all such further or 
other acts to be done, and to regulate or prohibit the doing of 
all such further or other acts as they may deem proper to pre- 
vent the occurrence and provide for the extinguishment of fires 
in said city. 

25. To compel the owner or occupant of any grocery, 
cellar, tallow chandler's shop, soap factory, tannery, slaughter 
house, stables, stalls, privy, sewer, or other unwholesome or 
nauseous house, place or yard, to cleanse, remove or abate the 
same from time to time, as often as it may be necessary for 
the health,, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants, at the 
expense of the' owner or occupant thereof, and to prescribe 



THE CITY CHARTER. 93 

certain limits within which it shall not be laAvful to erect or 
establish any offensive or unwholesome manufactory or busi- 
ness. 

26. To direct the digging down, draining or filling up of 
lots, pieces or parcels of ground, in all cases in which by a 
vote of two-thirds they shall decide such digging down, 
draining or filling up necessary for preventing any damage or 
injury to the streets, side walks, cross walks, or to the adjoin- 
ing property, or for abating a nuisance at the expense of the 
owners thereof: to direct the fencing in or enclosing of vacant 
lands in said city ; but before any ordinance shall be passed 
for any of the purposes in this subdivision mentioned, ten 
days' notice of the application for, or the intention to pass 
guch ordinance shall be given to every person to be affected 
thereby, either personally or by publication in the corporation 
newspapers. 

27. To prevent or regulate the erection or construction of 
any stoop, step, platform, bay window, cellar door, area, descent 
into a cellar or basement, sign, or any post or erection, or any 
projection from any building, or otherwise, in. over or upon 
any street or avenue, in, or the removal of any house or other 
building through, said city, and to cause the same to be taken 
out and removed from such street or avenue, at the expense of 
the owner or occupant of the premises. 

28. To raze or demolish any building or erection which, by 
reason of fire or any other cause, may become dangerous to 
human life or health, or tend to extend a conflagration. 

29. To adopt all legal and requisite measures for levying 
and collecting the taxes. 

30. To prevent the selling, or giving away, with intent to 
evade the excise laws, any strong or spirituous liquors by any 
store-keeper, trader or grocer, except by persons duly licensed 
thereto, and to prohibit the selling or giving away, of any 
strong or spirituous liquors to any child, apprentice, servant or 
minor, without the consent of his or her parent, guardian 
master or masters. 

31. To limit and define the duties which are by this act re- 
quired to be performed by the several officers of the city, and 
to prescribe such other or further duties to be performed by 
them, or any of them, as it may deem proper. 

§ 12. The common council shall also have power to make, 
establish, alter, modify, amend and repeal all such other or- 
dinances, rules, police regulations and by-laws, not contrary 
to the laws of this state, or of the United States, as they may 
deem necessary to carry into effect the powers conferred on it 



94' THE CITY CHARTER. 

by this act, or by any other law of this state ; and such also 
as they deem necessary and proper for the good government, 
order and protection of the persons and property, and for the 
preservation of the public health, peace and prosperity of said 
city and its inhabitants. 

M3. In every by-law, ordinance, or police, or sanitary reg- 
ulation, the said common council may pass, it may impose 
such penalty for the violation or non-performance thereof as 
it may deem proper ; not exceeding one hundred dollars in 
amount, but no such by-law, ordinance, or regulation, shall 
extend in its operation beyond the territorial limits of this 
city. 

^14. Suits may be prosecuted in the corporate name of the 
city, against any person or persons who shall Adolate any pro- 
vision of any law, ordinance or regulation of the common 
council of said city, or who shall neglect or refuse to perform 
any act or duty hereby required of him or them ; and in every 
such action it shall be sufficient to declare generally for the 
penalty sued for, stating the by-law, ordinance or regulation, 
and the section thereof, upon which such action is brought j 
and every police justice and justice of the peace elected in 
said city shall have jurisdiction in all such cases, and execu- 
tion may be issued thereon immediately on the rendition of 
judgment ; and all penalties and forfeitures, when collected, 
shall be paid to the treasurer for the use of the city. 

^ 15. Every general ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation 
which may be passed by the common council, imposing a pen- 
alty, shall, after passage thereof, and before the same shall 
take effect, be published for ten days successively in the corpo- 
ration newspapers. Proof of such publication by the affidavit 
of the printer or publisher of such newspaper, taken before 
any officer authorized to administer oaths, filed in the office of 
the city clerk, or a copy thereof certified by said clerk, shall 
be deemed presumptive evidence thereof in all courts and 
places ; but such publication may be proved by any other 
competent evidence. 

^16. The common council shall designate the two newspa- 
pers printed in said city, having the largest bona fide circula- 
tion, in which shall be published all ordinances, resolutions, 
no^tices or other proceedings, which by this act or any other 
act are or may be required to be published, except as herein- 
after otherwise directed. 

^17. The common council shall have power by resolution, 

1. To compel the owner or occupant of any building or 
wall in the said city, which may be in a ruinous or unsafe 



The city charter. 95 

condition, to render the same safe or to remove it, and in case 
he will not proceed as directed, either to render it safe or to 
remove it, to cause the same to be done at the expense of such 
owner or occupant, and to sue for and recover the expense 
thereof in a civil action. 

2. To require the removal or destruction of any dead car- 
cass or other unwholesome or offensive substance or substances 
likely to become unwholesome or offensive, from any street, 
lot, or building, by the owner or occupant thereof, and in case 
such owner or occupant will not proceed as required to remove 
or destroy the same, then to cause the same to be done at the 
expense of such owner or occupant, and to sue for and recover 
the expense thereof in a civil action. 

3. To require any building, fence or other erection which 
may be placed within or erected upon the line of any street 
or highway in the city, to be removed therefrom by the owner 
or occupant, and in case of his neglect to remove the same 
to cause it to be removed at the expense of such owner or oc- 
cupant, and to sue for and recover the expense thereof in a 
civil action. 

§ 18. The aldermen to be elected as hereinbefore provided, 
shall be fence viewers within their respective wards, and 
shall have and exercise all the powers and authority of fence 
viewers. 

§ 19 The mayor shall annually, on or before the first 
Monday of February, present to the common council a state- 
ment in writing, of the several sums of money he shall deem 
necessary to be raised by tax for the various purposes contem- 
plated by this act. 

TITLE III. 

OF CITY OFFICERS, THEIR ELECTION AND DUTIES. 

Section 1. The administrative powers of said corporation 
shall be vested in a mayor, comptroller, street commissioner, 
collector of taxes and assessments, and such other officers as 
shall from time to time, be created by law or appointed by 
virtue of this act. 

§ 2. No person shall be elected or appointed to any such 
office, unless he be at the time of his election a resident and 
elector of the city, and, if elected to any ward or district 
office, an actual resident in such ward or district. 

^ 3. Elections for such officers as are by the provisions of 
this act to be elected, shall be held in. each of the wards and 
election districts of said city, on the day of the general state 



96 THE CITY CHARTER. 

election, at such places as the common council shall desig- 
nate. The first election for said officers, shall be held on the 
day of the general election in November, one thousand eight 
hundred and fifty-one. The electors shall vote by ballot in 
the district Avhere they actually reside. 

^ 4. On the outside of each ballot, when folded, shall appear, 
written or printed, one of the following words, •' City" " Ex- 
cise, " but no ballot found in the proper box shall be rejected 
for want of such endorsement. The ballot endorsed " City" 
shall contain the names of all the city officers then to be 
chosen, except commissioners of excise, any or either of them j 
and the ballot endorsed "Excise" the names of the commis- 
sioners of excise to be chosen, any or either of them; such 
ballots shall be deposited in separate boxes to be provided by 
the city for that purpose, and all the provisions of law in 
respect to the election of state officers shall be deemed to 
apply to elections held under this act, so far as the same are 
applicable and consistent therewith. 

§ 5. The canvass of the votes in each election district shall 
be completed Mdthout adjournment, and upon its completion, 
the inspectors shall cause a statement thereof to be made and 
signed by them, and shall on the same day or the next day 
thereafter file the same with the clerk of the city. The clerk 
shall present the statement to the common council at a meet- 
ing to be held for the purpose on the Saturday secceeding the 
election, at or before five o'clock on that day, and a majority 
of the aldermen shall constitute a quorum. The common 
council shall thereupon determine who, by a plurality of 
votes, are elected to fill the offices voted for, and make and 
subscribe a certificate thereof in the book of record of its 
proceedings. The clerk shall thereupon serve upon each 
person elected to an office, either personally, or at his place 
of residence, a notice of his election. At the first election to 
be held under this act, the statement above mentioned shall 
be filed with the clerk of the village of Williamsburgh, and 
it shall be the duty of the president ^and trustees of said 
village, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum, at a 
meeting to be held for that purpose on the Saturday succeed- 
ing such first election, to determine and certify who, by a plu- 
rality of votes, are elected to fill the offices voted for. 

§ 6. The mayor shall be elected every two years, and no 
person shall be eligible to that office unless he has resided in the 
city at least three years. He shall receive such salary as 
shall be fixed by the board of finance. He shall, by virtue of 
his office, be a supervisor of the city of Williamsburgh, and a 



THE CITY CHARTER. 97 

member of the board of supervisors of the county of Kings, 
with all the powers and authority of a supervisor of said 
county, and shall possess all the jurisdiction and exercise all 
the powers and authority in criminal cases, of a justice of 
the peace, in addition to the powers heretofore given him by 
this act ; but shall receive no fees for his services as such 
justice of the peace, (except as hereinafter provided,) nor for 
his services as supervisor. It shall be his duty : 

1 . To communicate to the common council at their first 
meeting in the month of January in each year, and oftener if 
he shall deem it expedient, a general statement of the situa- 
tion and condition of the city, in relation to its government-, 
finances and improvements, with such recommendations as he 
may deem proper, 

2. To be vigilant and active in causing the laws and ordi- 
nances of the city to be duly executed and enforced, and to 
exercise a constant supervision over the conduct and acts of 
all subordinate officers, and to examine into all complaints 
preferred against them for a violation or neglect of duty; to 
preserve the peace of the city, and generally to perform all 
such duties as may be required of him by law, for which 
purpose he shall have and possess all the authority and power 
in criminal cases, to arrest and commit for examination all 
offenders for offences committed within said city against the 
laws of this state, of a police magistrate or justice of the 
peace of any of the towns of this state ; and shall have the 
power and authority to issue warrants against any and all 
persons violating any of the ordinances and by-laws or regu- 
lations of the common council, or of the board of health, to 
direct the proper officers to arrest such persons, and summa- 
rily to hear, try and determine, and dispose of the same, 
where the penalty imposed by said ordinance, by-law or 
regulations ishall not exceed ten dollars ; and in case the 
penalty imposed by said ordinance, by-law or regulatioja 
shall not be paid forthwith upon such person being adjudged 
guilty, then the said mayor shall have power, by war- 
rant under his hand and seal, to commit the said offender 
to the county jail of Kings county, for a term not exceeding 
thirty days; or until the fine is paid. And in all cases where 
such person shall hold a license or warrant granted by the 
common council, or any of the officers thereof, it shall be. 
lawful for the said mayor to suspend said license or warrant, 
or the person so found guilty, from the benefits and privileges 
of said license or warrant until the common council shall 
pass upon the same; and it shall be the duty of the mayor to 

9 



98 THE CITY CHARTEtl. 

report the fact of such suspension, together with his reason 
therefor, to the common council at the next meeting thereof; 
and no person so suspended shall be entitled to any benefits, 
privileges or rights under said license or warrant, until the 
sus})ension shall be removed by the common council. 

^ 7. Whenever there shall be a vacancy in the office of 
mayor, or whenever the mayor shall be prevented by absence 
from the city, by sickness, or any other cause, from attending 
to the duties of his office, the president of the common 
council, or if the said president shall be absent or disabled, 
the president to be elected pro tempore, shall act as mayor, 
and possess all the rights and powers of the mayor during the 
vacancy in office caused by the absence or disability of the 
mayor, or of the president of the common council; and the 
said president shall receive the same compensation as the 
mayor while acting in such capacity. 

^ 8. There shall be a comptroller, who shall be elected 
every two years. He shall render to the common council, as 
often as required, a full and detailed statement of all the re- 
ceipts and disbursements of the city government from time to 
time, specifying the amounts expended and unexpended on 
each appropriation made by the board of finance, with the 
state of each account, together with a general statement of 
the liabilities and resources of the city, and such other infor- 
mation as may be necessary to a full understanding of the 
financial affairs of the city. He shall also, under the direction 
of the common council, prepare the annual statement herein- 
before directed to be published, and manage all the financial 
concerns of the corporation, and of the several departments 
thereof, in addition to such duties as may be required of him 
by iaw, and the ordinances of the common council, and shall 
be entitled to receive such salary as the board of finance shall 
determine, and by consent of the common council may appoint 
a deputy comptroller, for whose acts he shall be responsible. 
- ^ 9. There shall be a commissioner of streets and repairs, 
whu shall be elected every two years. He shall perform all 
such services as may be directed in relation to the opening, 
widening or regulating, grading, paving and repairing streets 
ana avenues, building and repairing sewers, wharves and 
piei>, digging and building wells, cisterns and reservoirs, with 
sucli i.ther duties as may from time to time be prescribed for 
hiru by the common council. He shall, under the direction of 
the common council, have charge of all repairs and supplies, 
antt ^hail receive and have charge of all maps, books, and 
paj^-'is appertaining to his department, and shall be entitle^ 



THE CITY CHARTER. 99 

to such salary as the board of finance shall determine, and by 
consent of the common council may, when necessary, appoint 
a deputy, for whose acts he shall be responsible. 

^ 10. There shall be a treasurer, who shall be elected every 
two years. He shall receive, safely keep and disburse, under 
the direction of the common council, all moneys belonging to 
the city. He shall also keep an accurate account of all re- 
ceipts and payments, and make weekly returns thereof, in 
such manner as the common council shall direct. The 
common council shall make orders for the payment of all 
moneys to be drawn out of the treasury, and no money shall 
be drawn or paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of 
such orders appropriating the same, and upon warrants signed 
by the mayor or acting mayor and comptroller, and counter- 
signed by the city clerk, or in his absence by his assistant. — 
Such warrants shall specify for what purpose the amount 
therein mentioned is to be paid, the appropriation against 
which it is drawn, and the date of the ordinance making the 
same ; and the said clerk shall keep an accurate account of 
all orders directing moneys to be drawn from the treasury, in 
a book to be provided for that purpose. 

Ml- There shall be elected every two years, an attorney 
and counsel for the corporation. He shall have the manage- 
ment, charge and control of all the law business of the cor- 
poration, and the departments thereof, and of all the law bu- 
siness in which the city shall be interested ; draw all leases, 
deeds, and other legal papers for the city, and shall be the 
legal adviser of the mayor and common council, and the 
several departments of the corporation ; he shall have the 
charge, management and control of. and shall conduct all the 
proceedings necessary in opening, widening, altering, or clos- 
ing streets, avenues, parks, roads or lanes, and all other local 
improvements of the same kind. He shall receive from the 
common council such an annual salary as the board of finance 
shall determine, to be paid quarterly, exclusive of all dis- 
bursements, and in full for all services rendered or performed 
by him in virtue of his office, including all attorney and 
counsel fees arising, or which may accrue on any proceedings 
for any local improvement or otherwise ; all which fees shall 
belong to and be paid into the city treasury, and the salary 
aforesaid shall be in lieu of all fees and perquisites what- 
ever. 

M2. There shall be elected every two years a city clerk, 
who shall perform such duties as the common council may 
prescribe, and shall in addition to the duties in this act 



100 THE CITY CHARTER. 

required of him. have charge of all the papers and documents 
of the city, countersign all licenses granted by the mayor or 
the board of excise, and keep the record of the proceedings of 
the common council. He shall perform all the duties of the 
clerks of the several towns of this state not inconsistent with 
this act. He shall engross all the ordinances of the common 
council in a book to be provided for that purpose with proper 
indexes, which book shall be deemed a public record of such 
ordinances, and each ordinance shall be signed by the mayor 
<?r acting mayor and said clerk. Copies of all papers duly 
filed in^ his office and transcripts thereof, and of the records 
of proceedings of the common council, and copies of the laws 
or ordinances of the said city certified by him under the cor- 
porate seal, shall be evidence in all courts and places with 
the like effect the originals would have if produced. 

^13. The common council may annually appoint so many 
city surveyors as it shall deem proper, and fix their compen- 
sation for services, in the opening or grading of any street^ 
avenue, square, or making any other local improvement, and 
in all other cases in which they may be employed by the 
common council, and shall require from them bonds with such 
penalties as they deem sufficient to secure the faithful per- 
formance of all their duties. 

^14. There shall be annually elected in each ward one 
constable, who shall perform such duties as are by law pre- 
scribed to constables in other towns and counties of this state 
in civil cases, and shall be entitled to similar fees therefor^ 
but no constable shall be compelled to execute any criminal 
process, or do any other criminal business, nor shall any con- 
stable be entitled to receive any compei^sation for services in 
criminal cases. 

^ 15. At the annual election for charter officers, first to be 
held under this act, there shall be elected from each ward one 
assessor ; the assessors so elected shall together constitute a 
board of assessors, one of whose term of office shall expire in 
each year. The assessor elected for the first ward shall hold 
his office for one year, the one so elected for the second ward 
for two years, and the one so elected for the third ward for 
three years; and at each and every succeeding annual elec- 
tion there shall be elected one assessor to fill the vacancy oc- 
casioned in said board, and the assessors elected after the first 
annual election to be held under this act shall respectively 
hold office for the term of three years. 

^16. The said board shall perform all the duties and pos- 
sess all the powers conferred upon assessors in the different 



THE CITY CHARTER. lOl 

towns of this state, provided hoM'cver, that it shall be lawful 
for the ai^sessors to substitute for the name of the owner of 
any lands which they may be required to assess, the words 
^'unknown owner" in all cases where they shall make and 
annex to their assessment roll an aflidavit that after having 
made diligent search and inquiry they have not been able to 
ascertain the name of the ovv'ner ] and provided further, that 
in the assessment of any lands in said city, it shall be a suffi- 
cient description of the premises to be assessed to designate 
them by the numbers ^of the lots respectively on the assess- 
ment map of the ward or city, together with the name of the 
street on which the same are situated. No tax, or the sale 
thereunder, shall be rendered invalid in consequence of a 
mistake in the assessment roll as to the ownership of the 
premises charged with such tax in any case where the premi- 
ses are correctly described ; and such tax may be lawfully 
collected from the person who was, or appears of record, to 
have been the actual owner of such premises at the time 
the assessment roll was certified, 

^17. The said board, after making out their assessment., 
shall leave the same in the office of the city clerk ; they shall 
then give notice by posting handbills and by publishing the 
same in the newspapers employed by the corporation, that the 
assesnicnt rolls arc completed, and are left in the ofHce of the 
city clerk, where the same may be seen and examined by any 
person interested, during thirty days, and that the board will 
meet on a certain day, to be named in said notice, at the ex- 
piration of said thirty days, at the office of the city elcrk, to 
review their assessment on the application of any person con- 
ceiving himself aggrieved. The said board shall grant relief 
to persons aggrieved in the manner and upon the evidence 
prescribed by law, and adjourn from time to time as often ap 
necessary, until they shall have disposed of all reasonable ob- 
jections. They shall then make two fair copies of said 
assessment rolls, confirm, sign and certify the same, and de 
liver one of said copies to one of the supervisors of the city 
of Williamsburgh, who shall lay the same before the board of 
supervisors of the county of Kings, at their next meeting and 
within the time prescribed by law ; and the other of said 
copies to the city clerk to be filed in his office. The common 
council shall use the copy filed with the city clerk, for the 
purpose of levying and collecting the city taxes for the current 
year, subject, however, to any equalizing correction therein, 
that may be made by said board of supervisors. 

^ 18. The board of finance shall fix an annual eompcnj-a- 
*9 



102 THE CITY CHARTER. 

tion for such assessors, to be levied in the annual tax and the 
common council may, by ordinance, regulate their duties 
under the foregoing provisions. 

^ 19. All provisions of law now applicable to the assessors 
of the village of Williamsburgh, or towns of this state in re- 
lation to the assessment and collection of taxes in said village, 
not inconsistent with this act, are hereby declared to apply to 
the board of assessors elected under this act. 

^ 20. There shall be elected every two years a sealer of 
weights and measures, who shall perform all the duties and 
possess all the powers belonging to the town sealers of this 
state, and also such other powers and duties relating to his 
office as may from time to time be conferred and imposed upon 
him by the common council. He shall be entitled to receive 
for his services such compensation as is or may be allowed by 
law to the several town sealers in this state for similar 
services, 

§ 21. The official terms of the several persons wiio shall be 
elected in pursuance of this act, shall commence on the first 
Monday of January next after their election; and the official 
terms of all persons Vv'ho shall be appointed to any office or 
place in pursuance of this act shall commence as follows : 

1 Such as are required to give security for the performance 
of their duties from the time such security shall be giv€«i and 
approved. 

2 Such as are not required to give security from the time 
they shall have taken and filed the oath hereafter mentioned. 

^ 22. The common council in a meeting, on the first Monday 
of January, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and from time 
to time as may be necessary, shall by ballot appoint so many 
fire wardens, pound masters, surveyors, and clerks of depart- 
ments as they shall deem it expedient to appoint. All persons 
so appointed shall hold their respective offices until the first 
Monday of January next after their appointment, and until 
their successors shall have been appointed and have qualified, 
unless sooner removed for official misconduct, or unless their 
time of office is specially provided for in this act. 

^2.3. The treasurer of the city, comptroller, street commis- 
sioner, city surveyor, city clerk, and such other officers as the 
common council shall direct, shall severally execute a bond to 
the corporation in such penalty as the said common council 
shall require, with such sureties as said common council shall 
approve, conditioned for the faithful performance of their 
rc.'ipcctive duties, and for accounting and paying over all 
gioneys by them respettivel); received in their official capaci - 



THE CITY CHARTER. 103 

ties ; in case such officers shall refuse or neglect for ten days 
after they are notified of their election or appointment, to 
execute and deliver to the city clerk the bond herein required, 
such neglect or refusal shall be immediately reported to the 
said common council, who may thereupon declare such office 
vacant, and forthwith proceed to appoint another in his 
place. 

^ 24. The constables elected by the several wards shall also"] 
with such sureties as the said common council shall approve, 
severally execute and file with the city clerk a bond for the 
faithful performance of their duties, and for the due payment 
to every person who may be entitled thereto, of all such 
sums of money as such constable may become liable to pay, 
by means of, or on account of any execution or other process 
which shall be delivered to him for collection. 

^ 25. The sureties referred to in the last two preceding 
sections, shall justify in such form as the common council 
shall prescribe, and the bonds thereby required, after having 
been duly approved, shall be 'filed in the office of the city 
clerk, except that the bond of the city clerk shall be filed in 
the office of the comptroller, before any one of the officers 
required to execute the same, shall enter upon the duties of 
their respective offices. 

^ 26. Every person elected or appointed to any office in 
pursuance of this act, or of any law or ordinance of the com- 
mon council, shall before he enters upon the duties of such 
office, take and subscribe before the mayor, city cierk, or some 
person authorized to administer the same, the constitutional 
oath of office of this state, and file the same in the office of 
the city clerk, and if any such person shall neglect to take 
such oath for ten days after receiving notice of his election or 
appointment, or. shall neglect for the like space of time to 
give such security as may be requi.-ed of him, he shall be 
considered as having declined such office, and the same shall 
be deemed vacant : and if, and whenever any vacancy shall 
occur in any of the offices to vv'hich, by this act, the common 
council may make appointments, it shall proceed to appoint 
suitable persons to fill such vacancies. 

^ 27. The common council shall grant and pay to the seve- 
ral officers, assessors, clerks, or other subordinates elected or 
appointed under or in pursuance of this act, except to alder- 
men, justices of the peace and constables, such stated salaries 
or compensation as may, previous to their election or appoint 
ment, be fixed by the board of finance ; but such salaries shall 
be, instead of all fees and perquisites for services to be per- 



104 THE CITY CHARTER. 

formed by such officers ; and all such fees and perquisites shall 
be collected and paid to the treasurer of the city, for the use 
of the city, by every such officer and clerk, monthly, under 
oath, to be filed with the comptroller, before he shall be 
entitled to receive any such salary ; but no officer's salary 
shall be either increased or diminished after his election, and 
during his continuance in office. 

§ 28. Any officer elected under this act may resign his office 
by giving notice in writing of his intention to 1hc city clerk, 
and publishing a copy of such notice in the corporation news- 
papers. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any of said 
offices, except in the office of an alderman, whether caused by 
death remov^il or otherwise, the common council may proceed 
by ballot to fill the vacancy until the ensuing charter election, 
when a person shall be elected for the balance, if any, of the 
term so vacated. 

^ 29. Any oflicer may be removed from office for misconduct 
by the resolution of the common council, provided that no 
such removal shall take place until the party sought to be 
removed has had an opportunity to be heard on his defence, 
nor unless two-thirds of all the members elected respectively 
vote therefor. Whenever any such removal shall take place, 
the cause thereof, together with the ayes and noes upon the 
vote taken shall be entered at large upon the journal of the 
common council. 

^ 30. If any person, having been an officer of the said city,, 
shall not within ten days after he sliall have vacated or been 
removed from office, and upon notification and request by the 
city clerk, or within such time thereafter as the common 
council shall allow, deliver over to his successors in office, all 
the property, books and papers belonging to the city, or apper- 
taining to such ofhee, in his possession, or under his control, 
he shall forfeit and pay to the city the sum of five hundred 
dollars to be sued for and recovered with costs. 

^ 31. No member of the conmion council shall, during the 
period for which Jie was elected, be appointed to, or competent 
to hold any office the emoluments of which are paid from the 
city treasury. 

TITLE IV. 

OF IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS THEREFOR. 

Section 1. The common council sliall have power, under 
the restrictions and limitations hereinafter mentioned, to 
cause streets and avenues to be opened and widened in not 



THE CITY CHARTER. 105 

more than three sections, and to be regulated, graded and 
paved ; sidewalks to be flagged, and curb and gutter stones 
set, and to cause public squares and parks to be opened, regu- 
lated, ornamented and protected, and streets and avenues to 
be kept in repair, and from time to time to be repaved, and 
sidewalks to be reflagged and curb and gutter stones to be re- 
set; to provide that lamp-posts and lamps be erected, and cis- 
terns made for the purpose of furnishing water in case of fire; 
to cause sewers and drains, wells and pumps to be constructed 
and repaired, and generally to make such other improvements 
in and about such streets, avenues and squares, as the public 
want and convenience shall require. The expense of all such 
improvements, except for repairs, and erecting lamp posts and 
lamps, shall be assessed and be a lien on the property bene- 
fitted thereby in proportion to the amount of said benefit. 

§2. No proceedings shall be taken to open or widen any 
street, park, avenue or square, or to regulate, grade or pave 
any street or avenue, unless upon petition, signed by one-third 
of the persons owning land situated within the assessment 
limits hereinafter provided ; and all public streets and squares, 
and streets and squares to be opened and widened by the pro- 
ceedings under these provisions, or to be ceded to and accepted 
by the common council, shall be under the jurisdiction, man- 
agement and control of the said common council, for the pur- 
pose of making the improvements before mentioned, as the 
public wants and convenience shall require, and for all pur- 
poses mentioned in or necessary for the fully carrying into 
effect all the provisions of this act, and the powers granted to 
the common council by this or any other act. 

§ 3. Whenever a petition for opening or widening any street, 
Sivenue, park or square, in said city, signed by one-third of the 
persons owning land situated on the line of the same shall be 
presented, the common council of said city shall cause a no- 
tice to be published in the corporation newspapers, that such 
application has been made, and of the time (which shall not 
be less than thirty days after the first publication of such no- 
tice,) when they will proceed on said petition, which notice 
shall be published daily for three weeks successively, and un- 
less a remonstrance signed by a majority of the persons who 
will be assessed for the expenses thereof, shall be presented to 
them on or before the day specified in said notice, and if they 
shall deem the application proper, they may, on the day speci- 
fied in said notice, or as soon thereafter as may be, by a reso- 
lution decide to allow such improvement to be made. Before 
giving notice of the pendency of such application, the common 



106 THE CITY CHARTER. 

council shall fix the limit or district of assessment, beyond 
which the asses.sment shall not extend; and a description of 
such limit or district shall be inserted in, and form part of 
such notice. If the common council shall deem it proper to 
permit such improvement to be made, they shall cause appli- 
cation to be made to the county court of the county of Kings, 
after publishing notice thereof, for two weeks, in the official 
ncAvspapers, or to the supreme court, at a special term held in 
the county, for the appointment of three persons as commis- 
sioners to estimate and assess the expense of said improve- 
ment, and the amount of damages and benefit to be sustained 
and derived therefrom by the owners of such lands and build- 
ings as may be affected thereby. The owners of property 
liable to assessment shall have the right to nominate, in 
writing, to the court, persons qualified as hereinafter men- 
tioned, to serve as commissioners ; and the said court shall 
thereupon appoint from among the persons so nominated, if 
any, three persons as such commissioners, who shall not be 
interested in the improvement, and shall be owners of a free- 
hold estate in said city liable to taxation ] the said court may 
also appoint another or others, to act in the place of any one 
or more of such commissioners who may die, decline serving, 
remove from the city, be or become interested in the improve- 
ment, or from any cause may be disabled from serving. 

^ 4. The persons so applying, and who shall have signed a 
petition for any such improvement, shall be chargeable with, 
and are hereby declared liable for all charges and expenses 
which may accrue on such application, if the same is refused 
by the common council. 

^ 5. The common council shall cause a map to be made by 
a competent surveyor, on which map shall be designated by 
feet and inches, as near as may be, the several pieces of land 
and premises necessary to be taken for the improvement, and 
of any residue of lots or pieces of land within the district of 
assessment, of which only a part will be required of the same; 
and also the several pieces of land and premises within the 
district of assessment laid out by the said common council, 
which said several pieces of land shall be numbered in figures 
from one upwards : and the map aforesaid shall form and con- 
stitute a part of the report of the commissioners of estimate 
and assessment, and shall be deposited with the report for ex- 
amination in the office of the street commissioner. 

^ 6. The said commissioners shall be sworn before some 
officer authorized to administer oaths, faithfully and impar- 
tig-lly to perform the duties which shall devolve upon them 



•THE CITY CHARTER. 107 

by virtue of said appointment, and shall then proceed with 
all reasonable diligence to make the estimate and assessmen. 
mentioned in the preceding section ; and for this purpose the^ 
shall have power to enter upon and examine any premise' 
which in their opinion will be affected by the said improve 
ment, to hear the proofs and allegations of the parties in- 
terested, at such time and place as they may appoint, and U 
continue such hearing by adjournment from time to time a; 
they may deem proper. 

^ 7. The report of said commissioners shall be made in r- 
tabular form, with columns, in which shall be distinctly givei . 
the whole expense of the proposed improvement, and the sev 
eral items thereof, the number on the map of the pieces o 
land required for the improvement, and of any residue, lot: 
or pieces of land within the district of assessment, of whicl. 
only a part will be required for the same ; the number of th< 
pieces of land assessed for benefits; the names of persons in- 
terested in the property taken or assessed for the improve- 
ment ; the amount awarded to the different parties interesteo 
in the lands and premises required for the improveinent ; th'i 
amount assessed on each piece of land, and on the differen; 
interests therein ; the balance of award to be received by the 
respective parties over the assessment; the balance of assess- 
ment to be paid by each individual whose assessments amouni 
to more than the award ; and so many and such other different 
columns and tabular statements as may be necessary to design 
nate the true interests of the parties in the lands and premise., 
required for the improvement, and their liabilities in relation 
thereto : Provided, however, that it shall be lawful for the: 
commissioners to substitute in their report for the name of the 
owner of any lands taken or assessed, the words '• unknown 
owners," in all cases where they shall make and annex to 
their report an affidavit that after having made diligent search 
and inquiry they have been unable to ascertain the name of 
the owner, stating also the facts and circumstances relative to 
such search and inquiry. 

^ 8. When a residue shall be left of any lot or lots neces- 
sary to be taken for such improvement, the said commission- 
ers may, in cases where injury or injustice would otherwise 
be done, and with the consent in writing of the owner or 
owners of such lot or lots, include the whole or any part of 
such residue in their report, (briefly describing the same,) and 
estimate separately the value thereof. Every such residue or 
part of a residue, which shall be so included, shall, upon the 



108 ^THE CITY CHAUTER. 

confirmation of the said report as hereinafter provided, and 
the payment or tender of the amount at which the same shall 
be so estimated, to the owner or owners thereof, vest in fee 
simple in the city of Williamsburgh, who shall thereupon sell 
and dispose of the same, at a price or prices not less than the 
sum at which it shall have been so estimated, to the owner or 
owners of the next adjacent lands; and if he or they shall 
not upon reasonable notice to be determined by the common 
council of said city, elect to take the same at such price or 
prices it shall be disposed of at public auction, upon such 
notice as the common council shall deem proper, for the best 
price or prices that can be obtained for the same. In case the 
same shall sell for a less sum than that at which its value 
was estimated by the commissioners, the deficiency shall be 
deemed a part of the general amount of loss and expense 
arising from the improvement. And for the purpose of pro- 
viding for the event of such deficiency, and for the payment 
of the amount thereof, the commissioners shall include m the 
estimate and assessment of the expenses of such improvement, 
the estimated value of any such residue or part of a residue 
which may be included as aforesaid in their report; and upon 
the sale of the same, as above provided, the proceeds thereof 
shall be credited and allowed to each of the persons assessed, 
in proportion to the amount of the respective assessments 

against them. ^ , , , i 

^ 9 In other cases in which part only of the land and pre- 
mises of any person or persons will be required for such pro- 
posed improvement, the fair estimated benefit to be derived by 
him her or them, in common with others, from the said im- 
provement, shall be assessed and be a lien upon the residue 
of such lands and premises, but such assessment shall, m no 
case, exceed the value of such residue, and if m the opinion 
of the court to whom said report shall be presented for con- 
firmation, as hereinafter provided, any assessment shall ex- 
ceed such value, it shall be good cause against confirming the 
said report. 

& 10 When all the land and premises of any person or per- 
sons will be required for the contemplated improvement, or 
where part only thereof will be required, and the estimated 
dama-c, to be sustained by the appropriation of such part to 
the purposes thereof, shall exceed the fair estimated benelit 
which in common with others, he, she, or they will derive 
from the said improvem nt, the amount of the estimated dam- 
ages in the first case and of the excess of such estimated dam- 



THE CITY CHARTER, 109 

ages in the last, shall be assessed and be a lien on other lands 
and premises according to the estimated benefit to be derived 
by them from the said improvement. 

^11. The said commissioners shall also estimate in theif 
said report any damages arising from the said improvement, 
which may be sustained by the owner or owners of any land 
bounded on a public highway, by reason of the location of the 
proposed street, avenue, or square, in such manner as to inter- 
pose the land of any other person between such proposed 
street, avenue, or square, and the said highway; and the 
amount of such estimated damages shall be assessed and be 
a lien on other lands and premises according to the besefit to 
be derived by them respectively from the said improvement. 

^12. After said report shall be completed, it shall be de- 
posited by the said commissioners, in the office of the com- 
missioner of streets and repairs. They shall then cause a 
notice to be published that the report has been completed and 
filed, and that they will meet at a time and place therein to 
be specified, not less than ten days from the first publication 
of such notice, to review their report. During that time the 
said report may be examined, free of expense, by all persons 
interested ; and at the time and place so specified, any sucK 
person may offer objections in writing to the said report, and 
accompany the same with such affidavits as he may think 
proper. The said commissioners shall thereupon, or aa soon 
as conveniently may be thereafter, review their said report, 
and correct the same where they shall deem proper, and shall 
then file the same in the office of the commissioner of streets 
and repairs. The common council shall then cause a notice 
to be published in the newspapers employed by the said oof- 
poration, that the said report has been so completed and liied, 
and that application will be made on behalf of the said com- 
mon council, to the county court of the county of King?, or 
to the supreme court at one of the special terms thereof, the 
time to be specified in such notice, (and in either case not less 
than ten days from the first publication thereof,) to have the 
said report confirmed. During the said space of ten days tbe 
said report shall remain open to the inspection, free of ex- 
pense, of all persons interested ] and any such persoik na^fey, 
within that time, appeal from said report. Such appeal shall 
be by notice to be served on the city clerk of the said common 
council, within the period last mentioned, and at least six 
days before the time at which the said report is to be present- 
ed to the court for confirmation, which notice shall be accom- 
panied with copies of the affidavits which shall have been de- 
livered to the commissioners (if it shall be intended to use or 
refer to copies thereof on such appeal,) and also with a brief 
10 



110 THE CITY CHAHTER. 

statement in writing, of the grounds of objection to such re- 
port and of the manner in which it is contended that the same 
ought to be altered. 

M3. Such appeal shall he heard by the court, to which the 
said report shall be presented for confirmation, at the time the 
same shall be so presented; copies of the affidavits which shall 
have been delivered and served as aforesaid, (but no others) 
may be read against confirming the said report, but no cause 
against such confirmation shall be heard, except an appeal 
shall have been made in the manner provided in the preceding 
section of this act. If no sufilicient reason to the contrary 
shall appear to the court, they shall confirm the said report; 
or if, in their opinion, the same ought not to be confirmed, 
they may refuse so to do, and in the event of such a refusal, 
they shall in the proper cases, refer it back, for revision and 
correction, to the same or other commissioners, who shall pro- 
ceed to revise or correct the same, and cause it or a new re- 
port to be filed in the office of the commissioner of streets and 
repairs. The common council shall thereupon cause a new 
notice to be published in the manner required in the preceding 
section of this act of the filing of such report, and of their in- 
tention to apply for the confirmation thereof. The said report 
may be appealed from within the time, and in the manner pro- 
vided in the said section, and such appeal shall be proceeded 
upon, and the said report again disposed of, in the manner di- 
rected by this section, and so often as any such report shall be 
referred back for revision and correction, the like proceedings 
shall be thereupon had as are provided in this section, upon a 
first reference back to the said commissioners. In all cases, how- 
ever, where the said court shall direct specific alterations to 
be made therein, and such alterations shall be made in its 
presence, they may thereupon absolutely confirm the said re- 
port without further notice. 

^14. After the reports of the commissioners shall be con- 
firmed, the said reports shall be delivered to the common 
council of said city, who shall be thereupon authorized to 
cause such improvements to be made. At any time within 
the space of thirty days next after the confirmation of the said 
report any person from whom any assessment contained therein 
may be due, may pay the amount thereof, without any addi- 
tional expense for collecting, to the collector of taxes and as- 
sessments. All such assessments which shall be unpaid at 
the expiration of that period, shall be collected by the col- 
lector of taxes and assessments, and in the manner herein and 
by this act provided. 

^15. The comptroller shall pay to the persons (or to the 
attorneys or legal representatives of such persons) to whom 



THE CITY CHARTER. Ill 

damages may have been awarded in such report, the amount 
of such damages, without any deduction therefrom by way of 
fee or commission. 

^ 16. The commissioners of estimate and assessment to be 
appointed as aforesaid shall be allowed three dollars for each 
and every day while actually and necessarily employed in and 
about their duties, and such compensation and the fees and 
charges of surveyors and other persons shall be estimated as 
part of the expenses of the improvement, and be afterwards 
taxed or certitied by the county judge, or some officer author- 
ized to tax costs in the supreme court of this state. 

^17. If the estimate of the expenses shall exceed the 
amount of expenses which shall be actually incurred in making 
the improvement, such excess shall be refunded or allowed to 
the persons assessed, in proportion to the amount of thoir 
respective assessments. 

4 18. In any case of opening, widening, or extending any 
street, avenue, or square, under the provisions of this act, the 
county court of the county of Kings, or the county judge 
thereof, in term or vacation, or a justice of the supreme court 
shall have power, on application, to appoint guardians for 
infants, or other incompetent persons, in the nature of guard- 
ians ad litem, to protect their interests, or prosecute appeals; 
who shall be entitled to receive five dollars for their services 
and attendance before the commissioners, and no other fees or 
costs unless upon an appeal, in which case the judge who 
f^hall hear the appeal shall fix upon the further amount to be 
allowed them, if any, and shall certify the same. 

^19. The costs And fees of the attorney and counsel in any 
suck proceeding, exclusive of his disbursements, shall not 
exceed in any case the svim of two hundred dollars, unless on 
appeal, or when the report is sent back to the commirsioners, 
and in such case the judge who heard the appeal may allow 
such further sum in addition to the taxed or certified bills as 
he may deem just and proper, all of which shall be paid into 
the city treasury for the use of the city. 

^ 20. All assessments for improvements in said city, when 
the same shall have been confirmed according to the provis- 
ions of this act, shall constitute and be a lien upon the 
))roperty assessed from the time of such confirmation, which 
lien shall have priority over all other liens or incnmbrancea. 

4 21. The expense of regulating, grading and paving streets 
or avenues, or any part or section thereof, of constructing and 
erecting sewers and drains, wells and pumps, fire cisterns, 
flagging and reflagging sidewalks, setting and resetting curb 
and gutter stones, and of fencing or filling in lots, and all 
other improvements, of a like nature, not before specified, shall 



112 THE CITY CHARTER. 

be apportioned and assessed by commissioners to be appointed 
ins hereinafter directed. 

^ 22. Prior to the passage of any ordinance for such purpose 
the common council shall cavise a plain and accurate specifi- 
cation of the work proposed to be constructed, to be prepared 
and placed in the office of the street commissioner for public 
inspection. It shall then cause notice to be published in the 
official newspapers, that on a day therein to be named, at 
Jeast two weeks from the first publication thereof, the common 
coancil will act in relation to the work proposed to be 
constructed, and in the mean time sealed proposals for 
constructing the work, with bonds for the faithful performance 
thereof, will be received by the street commissioner. Before 
publishing such notice the common council shall fix the limit 
or district of assessment, beyond which the assessment shall 
Bot extend, and a description of such district shall form part 
of such notice. Upon the day mentioned in the notice, or 
upon such other day as the common council may adjourn to 
for that purpose, the city clerk shall, in the presence of the 
common council, open the sealed proposals for constructing 
the work. No proposals shall be considered which shall not 
"be accompanied by a bond with sureties, and in a penalty, both 
to be approved by the common council, conditioned that if the 
proposal be accepted, the persons proposing will construct the 
work at the price, and upon the terms proposed, according to 
the plans and specifications therefor in the street commission- 
er's office, within such reasonable time as the common council 
may limit, and subject to the supervision and approval, in 
writing, of the street commissioner, orchis deputy. The 
common council shall then determine whose is the most favor- 
able proposal, and may then, by a vote of two-thirds of all 
its members, to be ascertained by taking and recording the 
ayes and noes, authorize and direct the construction of the 
proposed work, and accept the most favorable proposal. 

^ 23. Upon a copy of the ordinance of the common council 
directing the construction of the proposed work, certified by 
the city clerk, and approved by the mayor, the common 
council shall cause application to be made to the county 
court of the county of Kings, or to the supreme court, at a 
special term held in said county, for the appointment of three 
persons as commissioners, who shall be owners of a freehold 
estate, in the city of Williamsburgh, liable to taxation, and 
not interested in the said improvement. The court shall there- 
upon appoint three persons as commissioners. 

^ 24. Each commissioner, so appointed, shall immediately, 
upon receiving notice of his appointment, take an oath before 
(some officer authorized to administer oaths, faithfully and 



THE CITY CHARTER. 113 

fairly to discharge the duties which shall devolve upon him by- 
such appointment, and the said commissioners shall thereupon 
proceed to view the premises, and shall assess the expense of 
said improvement upon the several lots, pieces or parcels of 
land benefitted, in proportion to the benefit which in their 
opinion the same shall derive from or in justice ought to bo 
assessed for the said improvement : Provided, however, that 
it shall be lawful for said commissioners to substitute in their 
report for the name of the owner of any land assessed the 
words "unknown owner," in all cases where they shall make 
and annex to their report an affidavit that after having made 
diligent inquiry they have not been able to ascertain the name 
of the owner, stating the facts and circumstances relative to 
such inquiry. 

^ 25. The said commissioners shall make a report, in 
writing, of the assessment so made, and before proceeding to 
sign the same shall give notice in the corporation newspapers, 
which notice shall be published once in each week for four 
weeks successively, of the time and place when and where 
the parties interested can be heard ; and after hearing the 
parties, the commissioners shall proceed and complete the 
report and sign the same, and return the said report with all 
objections in writing which shall be presented to and left with 
them, by any of the parties interested, to the common council, 
who shall refer the same, in case of any objections in writing, 
to the proper committee of the board, the said committee shall 
give notice in writing, to be served ten days previous to the 
day of hearing, to the parties makiaig such objections, of the 
time and place when and where they will meet to hear them 
on the objections and report; the said commissioners shall 
meet with the said committee and explain, if necessary, their 
report. 

^ 26. The said committee shall thereupon examine the 
matter and report to the common council, and shall return to 
them the said report of the commissioners, with the objections 
of the parties, together with the views and opinions of the 
committee respecting the said report. 

§ 27. The common council shall thereupon examine the 
matter, correct the said report and assessment, send it back to 
the same commissioners or confirm the same, as they may 
deem just and proper. 

§ 28. And the like proceedings shall be had when the 
report of the commissioners is sent back as in the first 
instance. 

$ 29. The common council shall determine upon and fix the 
amount of compensation to be paid the commissioners in nil 
such proceedingSj and the amount to be paid them, together 
*10 



114 THE CITY CHARTER. 

■with the expenses and per centage, shall be added to form any 
part of the amount to be assessed for such improvement. 

^ 30. An error or mistake made by the commissioners to be 
appointed under this title, as to the ownership or description 
of any premises mentioned or referred to in their report, shall 
not affect or render invalid any other part or portion of their 
report than so much as is erroneously designated or described. 

^ 31. The common council shall have power on the written 
application of any party interested, in the manner hereinafter 
provided, to alter the grade of any street or avenue in all or 
any part thereof, provided that before finally determining to 
make such alteration, they shall cause a profile showing the 
intended alteration to be made, and placed in the office of the 
street commissioner for public inspection, and shall cause a 
notice to be published in the official newspapers once in each 
week for four consecutive weeks, setting forth their intention 
to make such alteration, and requiring all persons interested 
therein to present their objections in writing to the common 
council, at a time and place to be mentioned in said notice, 
after the expiration of four weeks from the first publication 
thereof. After the expiration of the time named in said no- 
tice, the common council may, by the affirmative vote of three- 
fourths of all the members elected, alter such grade. In case 
the owner or owners of any building, or the authorized attor- 
ney of such owner or owners, shall, within six weeks after the 
passage of any ordinance altering the grade of any street or 
avenue, present to the common council, in writing, a claim 
for damages to such building arising from such alteration, it 
shall then be the duty of the common council to cause appli- 
cation to be made to the county court of the county of Kings 
or to the supreme court at a special term thereof held in said 
county, for the appointment of three persons as commissioners 
to estimate and assess the expense of said improvement and 
the amount of damages and benefits to be sustained and deriv- 
ed therefrom by the owners of such lands and buildings as may 
fee aflEeoted thereby The said court shall thereupon appoint 
three commissioners possessing the qualifications required by 
the third section of this title, and may, from time to time, fill 
any vacancy that may arise in such commission. The said 
commissioners thereupon shall proceed to estimate and assess 
suQh expenses, damages and benefits, and make and complete 
their report thereof in the same manner and with the 
like effect that commissioners are required in and by this 
title to estimate, assess and report the expenses, damages or 
b.enefits of opening or widening streets, and the like pro- 
ceeding shall thereupon be had as are provided in and by 
.^ections twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seven- 



THE CITY CHARTEE. 115 



teen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-one of this 
title. 

§ 32. Whenever any street shall be paved or flagged, the 
owners of property to be assessed for such improvement may 
recommend to the common council a suitable person as in- 
spector for that particular work, who shall be appointed for 
that purpopse. In case the owners recommend more than one, 
the common council shall select one from the number recom- 
mended, who shall be the inspector. 

TITLE V. 

OF THE COLLECTION OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS. 

Sec. 1. There shall be elected at the first charter election 
to be held under this act, and in every second year there- 
after, a collector who shall hold his ofiice for the term of two 
years, and until another person shall be elected in his place 
and be duly qualified, who shall be called the collector of 
taxes and assessments in the city of Williamsburgh, and have 
the same powers as the several collectors of towns in the 
state. He shall keep an office in such place in the said city 
as the common council shall provide, which shall be open for 
the transaction of business during such hours as the com- 
mon council shall designate, on each day in the year except 
Sundays, and such holidays as shall be observed by the 
general custom of said city or by recommendation of pub- 
lic authority. He may, with the consent of the common 
council, appoint a deputy, for whose acts he shall be respon- 
sible. 

§ 2. The said collector shall execute a bond to the city of 
Williamsburgh with at least two sureties, who shall be free- 
holders in the county of Kings, in such penalty as the common 
council shall direct, conditioned for the faithful performance 
of the duties of his office and accounting and paying over as 
directed by law, all moneys which shall be received by him 
as such collector. Such sureties shall severally justify under 
oath to be endorsed on said bond, in sums which together shal! 
constitute at least double the amount of the penalty of the 
bond to be approved by the common council. The bond shall 
be filed with the city clerk, and if not filed within twenty 
days after the collector shall be notified of his election, his 
office shall be deemed vacant, and no collector shall enter upon 
the duties of his office until such bond shall be duly executed, 
approved and filed. The collector's sureties shall also be re« 
newed during his term of ofiice, whenever and as often as the 
common council shall direct, and if not sq renewed within 



116 THE CITY CHARTER. 

twenty days after notice to the collector, liis office shall be 
deemed vacant. 

^ 3. The common council may, by resolution, suspend the 
collector for official neglect or misconduct, in which case they 
shall immediately cause written notice, with a copy of the 
charges thereof, to be left at his office ; they shall then pro- 
ceed to investigate the charges against him, and if such charges 
are sustained, may remove him from office, in the manner. here- 
inbefore provided for the removal of other officers of the city 
government, 

§ 4. There shall be added to and included in every asses- 
ment, assessed in the city of Williamsburgh, the sum of two 
per cent, upon the amount of such assessment, for the expense 
of collection, which shall be for the use of said city. The col- 
lector shall also collect and receive for the use of the city, the 
fees now allowed by law to the collectors of the village of 
Williamsburgh for collecting the state, county, town and 
school tax, and included in the warrants and tax lists directed 
to him by the supervisors of Kings county. He shall keep a 
separate account of the per centage and fees collected by him 
under the provisions of this section, and shall from time to time 
and as often as required by the common council, render the 
same to the comptroller verified by his oath, in such form as 
the common council shall prescribe. 

§ 5. The board of finance shall fix the salary or other com- 
pensation to be paid to the collector, and the common council 
shall pay the same to him out of the moneys raised by 
tax for city purposes, and the said collector shall not re- 
ceive any other or further compensation for services, but the 
common council shall provide for said collector an office, and 
all necessary desks, furniture, fuel, lights, books, and blank 
forms. 

§ 6. If any collector shall convert to his own use, in any 
way whatever, or shall use by way of investment in any kind 
of property or merchandise, or shall loan in any way any portion 
of the moneys received or collected by him as such collector, 
every such act shall be deemed and adjudged to be an embez- 
zlement of so much of said moneys as shall be thus taken, in- 
vested, used or loaned, which is hereby declared to be a felony, 
punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for a term not 
exceeding five years. 

^ 7. The board of supervisors of the county of Kings and 
the common council of the city of Williamsburgh, shall cause 
the corrected assessment rolls of the several wards, or fair 
copies thereof, with the warrants for collection, to be deliver- 
ed to the collector, on or before the first day of October in each 
year ; and the common council shall cause every assessment 



THE CITY CHARTER. 117 

roll made for any improvement in said city, or fair copies 
thereof, with a warrant for collection, to be delivered to said 
collector, within ten days after the same shall be finally con- 
firmed. But no warrant for the collection of any assess- 
ment shall be issued by the common council, until all the 
proceedings had in laying said assessment shall have been 
examined, and certified as correct by the street commis- 
sioner, and the attorney and counsel of the city, which 
certificate shall be endorsed upon, or annexed to the assess- 
ment roll. 

^ 8. The warrants of the board of supervisors shall be under 
their hands and seals, or the hands and seals of a majority of 
them, and shall require the collector, out of the moneys to be 
collected in each school district of the city, to pay to the trus- 
tees of the school in such districts such sums as shall be 
raised for school purposes in the district, and to the county 
treasurer the residue of the moneys to be collected by said 
warrant within one hundred and eighty days from the date of 
such warrant, but no moneys shall be paid by the collector to 
such school trustees until they shall have given to the city 
such security for the faithful disbursement thereof as may be 
required and approved by the common council. The warrants 
of the common council shall be signed by the mayor, or acting 
mayor, and shall be under the corporate seal of the city, 
attested by the clerk, and shall require the collector to pay the 
moneys to be collected to the city treasurer, within one hun- 
dred and eighty days from the date thereof, and to collect 
from the several persons named in the tax list or assessment 
roll annexed thereto, the several sums mentioned in the last 
column of such list or roll opposite to their respective names, 
and shall not be renewable. 

^ 9. As soon as practicable, after the annual tax rolls shall 
have been delivered to the collector, he shall, in books to be 
provided for that purpose, prepare an abstract of said rolls, 
adding thereto all such taxes and assessments as shall, from 
time to time thereafter, become chargeable upon such property, 
to the end that said abstract shall at all times exhibit in a 
condensed form all existing charges against the property as 
accurately as practicable. 

MO- The collector shall receive the taxes and assessment 
mentioned in said rolls, and shall, as often as required by the 
comptroller, and at least once in each week after receiving 
the same, render to the comptroller of the city a just and true 
account of moneys which shall have been received by him for 
taxes or assessments for city purposes, or for local improve- 
ments, and pay over the same to the city treasurer. He shall 
also every month, and as much oftener as required by the 



118 THE CITY CHARTER. 

county treasurer, render a like account of moneys received for 
taxes payable to the county treasurer, and at the same time 
pay over such moneys to the said county treasurer. 

M 1 . All taxes and assessments which shall be paid to the 
collector within thirty days after such tax or assessment roll 
shall have been delivered to him, shall be received by him 
without any additional charge ; on all taxes or assessments 
which shall be paid to him after the expiration of thirty days, 
and within sixty days after such delivery he shall add two per 
cent, and one per cent, shall be added for every thirty days 
thereafter until such tax or assessment shall be paid. 

M2. If any of the taxes mentioned in the assessment rolls 
annexed to the warrants from the board of supervisors, shall 
remain unpaid at the expiration of one hundred and eighty 
days from the time the said assessment rolls shall be delivered 
to him, and the collector shall not be able to collect the same, 
he shall deliver to the county treasurer an account of the taxes 
so remaining due, with an affidavit as required by law of col- 
lectors of towns, he shall be credited by the county treasurer 
with the amount thereof, and if any of the taxes or assess- 
ments mentioned in the assessment rolls annexed to his war- 
rants from the common council shall remain unpaid at the 
expiration of the said one hundred and eighty days, and the 
collector shall not be able to collect the same, he shall deliver 
to the comptroller of said city an account of the taxes or 
assessments so remaining due, with an affidavit that he has 
not upon diligent enquiry been able to discover any goods or 
chattels belonging to or in the possession of the person or 
persons residing in the city of Williamsburgh, charged with 
or liable to pay the sums mentioned in such account whereon 
he could levy the same, that he has caused a written or 
printed notice of such tax or assessment to be served person- 
ally on or left at the place of residence of the person or per- 
sons charged with or liable to pay such tax or assessment, if 
a resident of the city, or if not a resident of the city, that he 
has deposited such notice in the post office in said city, 
addressed to the person or persons taxed or assessed at his, her 
or their last known place of residence, or that upon diligent 
search and enquiry he has been unable to discover such place 
of residence. Upon the delivery to the comptroller of such 
account and affidavit the collector shall be credited by the 
comptroller with the amount of said account, 

M3. The county treasurer and comptroller respectively 
shall upon receiving from the collector an account of unpaid 
taxes or assessments, compare the same with the original 
assessment roll, and if he find it to be a true transcript 
thereof, he shall add to it a certificate showing that he had 



THE CITY CHARTER. HQ 

compared the account with the assessment roll, and found the 

s^iall withm fiijeen days atter receiving such account, trans- 
mit the account, certified as aforesaid, with the eoliector's 
affidavit, to the street commissioner. 

U4. If the collector shall refuse or neglect to pay to the 
city treasurer, school trustees, or to the county treasurer the 
sums required by his warrants to be paid to them respectivelv 
or either of them or to account for the same, if unpaid as 
hereinbefore provided within twenty days after the time when 
such payment ought to have been made, the common council 
shall upon receiving notice thereof from the county treasurer 
school trustees, or comptroller, cause the bond of such col- 
lector to be put in suit, and shall be entitled to recover the 
sum due from such collector, with costs of suit • and the 
moneys recovered shall be applied and paid by the common 
council m the same manner in which it M^as the dutv of the 
collector to have applied and paid the same. 

§ 15. The county treasurer and comptroller respectivelv 
may rec-eive any tax or assessment, while such accounts are in 
their hands, and before returning them to the street commis- 
sioner, charging the additional per centage thereon, as herein- 
before provided. They shall give a receipt for such payments 
and make return thereof to such commissioner, and also to 
the collector of taxes and assessments, who shall note such 
oflfcT^ ^^^ original assessment roll or copy thereof in his 

. i l^:?^^^"^ ^^^ account of unpaid taxes shall be transmit- 
ted by the county treasurer or comptroller to the street com- 
missioner, he shall examine them and reject all taxes which 
shall be found to be charged for personalty or on lands im- 
perfectly described, and shall furnish and transmit a cer- 
tihed statement of the same to the street commissioner, and 
the supervisors of the county, and shall from time to time fur- 
nish to the common council, or its officers a full statement 
ot the taxes remaining unpaid, or of the sale of any lots or 

coundl'' ^^""^^^ ^^ "'""^ ^^ ""^^^^^ ^'""^ ^^ ^^'^ common 

§ 17. The said supervisors and common council shall re- 
spectively cause the amount of such rejected taxes to be levied 
m the next assessment rolls, on the taxable property, of the 
respective wards in which they were before levied, and shall 
direct the same to be collected with the other taxes next col- 
lected in such wards ; and the board of assessors shall cause 
said descriptions to be corrected in the next assessment 



120 THE CITY CHARTER. 

^ 18. Whenever the street commissioner and the attorney 
and council of the city shall reject any assessment for local 
improvements, (which they are hereby authorized and empow- 
ered to do,) they shall forthwith report the same and the rea- 
sons therefor to the common council ; and the common council 
shall, in case they shall have been rejected for irregularity in 
the proceedings, or for imperfect descriptions of the lands, cause 
the amount thereof to be re-assessed ; and the common coun- 
cil are hereby authorized and empowered to have such re-as- 
sessment made in the same manner as the original assessment 
should have been made ; and such re-assessment shall have 
the same effect as if the assessment had originally been proper- 
ly made. 

^19. The common council, in case any such unpaid as- 
sessments shall be rejected for want of jurisdiction in making 
the improvement, shall cause the expense of the proceedings, 
and all damages consequent thereon, to be added to the 
amount directed to be laid in the next annual taxes for city 
purposes, and when collected to be paid to the parties who 
shall be entitled thereto. Whenever any moneys shall have 
been paid for an assessment, and a re-assessment shall be 
made in pursuance of this section, the amount shall be 
credited on such re-assessment to the property on which the 
assessment was made ; and in case any of alteration on the 
re-assessment, whereby the amount so paid shall exceed the 
amount re-assessed on the same property, such surplus shall 
be repaid to the person who may have paid the same ; and in 
case it shall be insuthcient to pay the amount re-assessed, the 
deficiency shall be collected in the same manner as other as- 
sessments. 

^ 20. All taxes and assessments imposed, made and confirm- 
ed pursuant to this act, shall be a lien and charge upon the 
lands and premises upon which the same are assessed from 
the time of such confirmation, which lien shall have priority 
over all liens and incumbrances. 

^21. Whenever any tax, or •assessment, shall be returned 
to the street commissioner, certified as aforesaid, and accom- 
panied by the affidavit of the collector, as above provided, the 
street commissioner shall cause a list thereof to be published 
in the corporation newspapers, together with a notice that if 
the same are not paid to the street commissioner, with inter- 
est as aforesaid, and expenses, on or before a certain day, to 
be therein designated, which shall not be less than twelve 
weeks from the first publication thereof, the lands and tene- 
ments upon which, or in respect to which they are imposed, 
will be sold, at a time and space therein specified, at public 
auction, to the person who will take the same for the shortest 



THE CITY CHARTER. 221 

period, and pay the tax or assessment with the expenses incur- 
red thereon, and of the sale ] such list, and notice, shall be 
published once a week for twelve weeks successively, 
and shall specify the street, avenue, or road, on which the 
land taxed or assessed fronts, on which side thereof, and 
near or between what streets it may lie, together with 
the name of the person to whom the same was t^xed or as- 
sessed. 

^ 22. Every printer of the newspaper in which such list 
and notice shall be published, shall, within ten days after 
the last publication thereof, deliver to the street commis- 
sioner an affidavit of due publication, made by himself, o:r 
by his foreman or principal clerk to whom the fact of 
publication shall be known, which affidavit shall be pre- 
sumptive evidence in all courts and places of the facts therein 
stated. 

^ 23. If any sitch tax or assessment remain unpaid on the 
day specified in said notice, the street commissioner shall pro= 
ceed to sell by public auction, at the city hall of the said city, 
the property on which said tax or assessment shall have been 
imposed, for the lowest term of years for which any person 
will take the same, and pay the amount of such tax or as- 
sessment with the interest and expenses, and he shall continue 
the sale from time to time, until all such lands shall be sold. 
He shall thereupon deliver to the purchaser a certificate of 
such sale, and furnish the collector with a memorandum 
thereof, which shall be noted on the original assessment rolls, 
and on the abstracts hereinbefore directed to be kept in his of- 
fice, such certificate of sale shall be recorded in the street com- 
missioner's office in proper books kept for that purpose, and 
shall constitute a lien upon the lands and premises therein de- 
scribed, after the same shall have been so recorded ; and no 
assignment of any certificate given on the sale of lands for any 
taxes or assessments, shall have any efiect until notice of the 
same, with the name and residence of the assignee shall be 
filed in the office of the street commissioner. 

^ 24. It shall be lawful for the street commissioner to bid 
in at such sale, for the use of the city, any lot of land and 
premises put up, for which no person shall offer to bid, and 
the street commissioner shall thereupon deliver to the comp- 
troller, for the use of the city, a certificate of such sale. 

\ 25. It shall be the duty of the street commissioner, to ad- 
vertise and sell the lots and parcels of land, certified by the 
county treasurer as aforesaid, upon which taxes remain due 
and unpaid, at the same time with lands certified by the 
comptroller as aforesaid, upon which city taxes remain due 
and unpaid, including them in the same advertisement, and 
11 



122 THE CITY CHAETEK. 

setting down the amounts so certified ty the county treasurer 
as unpaid, in a separate column, and make sale of the said 
lands for thb amount of both taxes, for the lowest term of 
years at which any person will take the same, and pay the 
faid an ounts with interest as aforesaid, and the expenses 
thereon, which expenses shall be charged one half to the ac- 
count of the city tax, and one half to the account of the county 
tax. 

^ 26. No mortgagee whose mortgage shall have been du- 
ly recorded before sale for any tax or assessment shall be 
divested of his rights in such properly, unless six months' no- 
tice shall have been given to him by the purchaser, or of those 
claiming under him. either personally, or if not to be found, 
then fuch notice shall be deposited in the post office of said 
city, directed to his last knoMn place of residence. 

^27. Within a month after the service of such notice, it 
shall be the duty of the person serving or causing the same to 
be served, to file in the street commissioner's office a copy of 
the notice served, together with the affidavit ot some person 
who shall be certified by the officer before whom said alhdavit 
shall be taken to be a credible person, proving the due service 
of said notice. 

^ 28. The owner, mortgagee, occupant, or any other person 
interested in such land, may at any time within two ^-ears af- 
ter the sale for either tax or assessment, redeem the said land 
by paying to the said street commissioner, for the use of said 
purchaser, the said purchase money, together with any other 
tax or assessment which the faid purchaser may have paid, 
chargeable on said land, and which he is hereby authorized to 
do, provided a notice thereof has been filed in the street com- 
mirioner's olhce.with fifteen per cent per annum in addition there- 
to, and the certificate of the street commissioner, stating the 
payment and showing what land such payment is intended to 
redeem, shall be evidence of such redemption. The mortgagee 
shall have power to redeem at any time until after the expi- 
ralicn of the six months specified in the twenty-eighth section 
of this title. 

^ 29. Upon the receipt of such moneys by the street com- 
missioner, he shall cause the same to be refunded to the pur- 
chaser, his legal representatives or assigns, and all proceedings 
in relation to said sale shall cease ; but if said moneys shall 
not be paid according to the exigency of said notice, the 
street commissioner shall proceed to cxeecute a conveyance of 
the property so sold as hereinafter provided. 

^ 30. Whenever the street commifsioner shall receive satis- 
factory information that the land so sold belongs to an idiot 
or insane person, for whose estate no committee shall have 



THE CITY CHARTER. l^fS 

been appointed, or to an infant having no guardian, he shall 
not execute a conveyance of iheir lands until at least six months 
after he shall have legal evidence that such disability has been 
removed, or a committee or guardian of their estate has been 
appointed. And until the expiration of said six months such 
committee or guardian may redeem such land in the manner 
hereinbefore provided. 

§ 31. The street commissioner shall from time to time, as 
the common council shall direct, make a return to the collector 
of taxes and assessments, of the taxes and assessments paid to 
him, and the collector shall note such payment on the original 
assessment roll, or copy thereof in his office, and the memo- 
randum of payment or any assessment roil or copy thereof in 
the said street commissioner's office, and the memorandum of 
payment on any assessment roll or copy thereof in the of- 
fice of such collector, shall be sufficient evidence of such pay- 
ment. The street commissioner shall also forthwith, upon receiv- 
ing the same, render to the trea.surers of the city and county 
respectively, an account of the proceeds of any sale, and of any 
money received or collected by him that may be payable to 
either of them, and s,t the same time pay over the said moneys 
received by him. 

^ 32. The street commissioner where the land sold shall not 
have been redeemed as by this act provided, shall exeeute to 
the purchaser or his assigns, a proper conveyance of lands bo 
sold by him, which shall contain a brief statement of the pro- 
ceediiigs had for the sale of said lands, and shall be evi- 
dence that such sale was regularly made according to tho 
provisions of this act. He shall also forthwith deliver 9, 
memorandum of such conveyance to the collector, who shall 
note the same on the assessment rolls and abstract kept in 
his office, 

TITLE VI. 

OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

Sec. 1. There shall be elected in the city of Williamsburgh, 
at the first charter election to be held under this act, and 
every three years tiiere&fter, a justice of the peace, who shall 
be dejiominated the " police justice," and shall hold his office 
for three years from the first day of January next after his 
election, and until a successor shall be elected and qualified. 

^ 2. The said police jvistice shall not have nor exercise any 
civil jurisdiction, except in actions or proceedings which may 
be brought for a violation of any of the ordinances, by-laws 
or regulations of the city of Williamsburgh, or of the board 
of health of said city, where the penalty shall not exceed two 
hundred and fifty dollars, in all of which cases the said police 



124 THE CITY CHARTER, 

j^iTstfce, alid eracli -of the justices of tlie peace of said «ity shall 
"have, possess and exercise jurisdiction to hear, try and deter- 
mine the same. 

^ 3. Tlie said police justice shall have the same powers and 
jurisdisdiction in criminal cases and proceedings, and in cases 
of vagrancy, and of disorderly persons that justices of the peace 
of the town of Williamshurgh now have by law^, which may here- 
€;fter be -conferred on justices of the peace of the towns of this 
state,and shall be subject to the same duties and liabilities in such 
eases and proceedings as the justices of the peace of the several 
towns of this state. He shall have jurisdiction to hear all com^ 
complaints, and to conduct all examinations in criminal cases, 
in the city of Williamshurgh, and to try all criminal cases as 
a court of special sessions that may now by law be tried by 
a justice of the peace, or by a court of special sessions in the 
town of Williamsburgk. He shall also have the same juris- 
diction and powers in bastardy cases that are now possessed 
by the justices of the peace of said town. He shall attend to 
all -eomplaints of a criminal nature, and for violations of th« 
city ordinances, which may be brought before him ; and in 
case he shall remove from the city, his office shall be vacated, 
and "whenever a vacancy shall occur in said office, either by 
death, resignation or removal from the city, the same shall be 
filled by the appointment of some suitable person by the <?om- 
mon council The person so appointed shall possess all the 
powers, perform all the duties, and be entitled to the same 
compensation herein conferred and imposed upon, and provided 
for the ?-aid police j^astice^ but shall not hold his appointment 
beyond the election and qualification of a police justice to be 
elected to fill such vacancy at the next annual election. In 
case of the sickness of the said police justice, his absence 
from the city, or vacancy in his office, the mayor shall possess 
all his powers, and perform all his duties, and in case of the 
sickness, or absence from the city, both of the police justice 
and the mayor, the acting mayor shall possess all the powers 
and perform all the duties herein conferred and imposed upon 
•the said police justice, 

^ 4. The said police justice shall not be entitled to receive 
for his own use any fees for services performed by him, but 
shall receive such annual salary as the board of finance 
shall determine, to be paid quarterly out of the city treasury 
He shall keep a book in which he shall enter all business done 
by him as such police justice, and all fines and costs received 
by him, and w^hich shall at all times be open to the inspection 
of the common council, attd the comptroller of the eity ; he 
shall keep an account of all services performed by him as 
such justice of the peace, and which now are, or hereafter 



THE CITY CHARTER. 125 

maybe by law, county charges, and the several items thereof, 
and shall render the same duly verified quarterly to the board 
of supervisors of Kings county, which charges shall be audit- 
ed by the board of supervisors, and the amount audited shall 
be levied upon the county as other county charges, and paid 
over to the treasurer of the city of Williamsburgh. He shall, 
also, render a duplicate of such account to the comptroller of 
the city, together with an account of all fines and costs re- 
ceived by him, verified in such form as the common council 
may prescribe, and pay all such fines and costs to the trea- 
surer of the city, before he shall be entitled to receive his sal- 
ary; he shall not be entitled to receive any compensation for 
the period he may be abseni from the city, and incase his du- 
ties are performed during his absence by the mayor or acting 
mayor, said mayor or acting mayor shall be entitled to, and 
shall receive during the period of such absence, such compen- 
sation as the said police justice would have been entitled to if 
present and performing the duties of his office. 

$ 5. The common council shall provide, at the expense of 
the city, a suitable room for the use and occupation of said 
police justice, in the transaction of his business and duties as 
such justice; and whenever a majority of two-thirds of all 
the members of the common council shall deem it necessary, 
the said common council may appoint a clerk to be nominated 
by said police justice, who shall hold his office during the plea- 
sure of the common council, and shall have power to receive 
complaints and administer oaths in all proceedings before said 
police justice, and shall perform such other duties relating to 
his office as may be prescribed by the common council. 

§ 6. The several justices of the peace of the town of Wil- 
liamsburgh, whose term of office shall not have expired on tho 
first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty- 
two, shall be justices of the peace for the city of Williams- 
burgh until the expiration of the term of office for which they 
were respectively elected; and at the first annual election to 
be held next after this act takes efi'ect as a law, and on each 
and every annual election thereafter, there shall be elected 
one justice of the peace in and for the city of Williamsburgh, 
whose term of office shall commence on the first day of Janu- 
ary next after his election, and shall continue for four years, 
who shall possess all the poM^ers and perform all the duties 
of justices of the peace of the towns of this state in civil casea 
only. 

^ 7. No justice of the peace of the city of Williamsburgh, 
except the police justice, shall, after the first day of Jariuary, 
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, have, possess or ex- 
ercise any power or jurisdictioo in criminal cases or proceed'- 
*11 



126 THE CITY CHARTER. 

ings, or over vagrants, or disorderly persons, nor shall any 
constable, marshal or other peace officer in said city, be enti- 
tled to or receive, after the said first day of January, one thou- 
sand eight hundred and fifty-two, any fees upon the arrest 
conviction or commitment of any vagrant or other person 
charged with vagrancy. 

^ 8. The mayor shall be the chief of the police department 
of the city. The common council shall designate by a vote 
of two-thirds of all the members elected, the number of po- 
licemen to be appointed for each ward. The aldermen of each 
ward, in conjunction with the nmyor, shall thereupon appoint^ 
in writing, so many policemen as may have been thus designated, 
which appointment shall be filed in the office of the city clerk. 

^9. It shall be the duty of the policemen to obey such 
orders as they may from time to time receive from the mayor 
and from the aldermen of their respective wards regarding 
their duty, to report to the mayor, all violations of the corpo- 
ration ordinances with the names and residence of witnesses; 
to preserve the public peace ; to watch and guard the 
city day and night; to be vigilant for the prevention 
and discovery of crime and the detection of criminals ; t-o 
report to the mayor all crimes or ofienccs committed in the 
city ; to arrest all persons in the actual commission of crimes, 
misdemeanors, breaches of the peace, or violations of corpo- 
ration ordinances, and all vagrants or disorderly persons ; to 
execute all criminal process issued by the mayor, aldermen, 
police justice, or by any inferior court of criminal jurisdiction 
which is now or may hereafter be established by the legisla- 
ture for the city of Williamsburgh, or that may be issued by 
any other officer or body authorized to issue criminal process; 
to report to the mayor, and aldermen of their respective 
wards, all suspicious persons, houses of ill-fame, receiving 
shops, pawnbrokers' shops, gaming houses, and all places 
where idlers, tiplers, gamblers, and other disorderly and sus- 
picious persons congregate ; to perform within the w^ard for 
which he shall be appointed, such duties in relation to the 
inspection of streets, pavements and sidewalks, wells and 
pumps, and public cisterns, and of hacks, cabs, carts and 
sleds, as the street commisisioncr or common council may 
direct ; and to perform such other duties from time to time as 
the common council may prescribe. 

§ 10. At any alarm of fire it shall be the duty of the police- 
men forthwith to proceed to the scene of conflagration, and to 
be diligent in preserving order and protecting property, and in 
•case of any riot or public disturbance they shall forthwith 
proceed to the scene of riot and aid in suppressing the 
same. 



THE CITY CHARTER, 127 

Hi- Two of the aldermen of any ward may suspend any 
policeman in their ward, and in all such cases they shall, 
within twenty-four hours thereafter, notify in writing the 
mayor and the aldermen of the ward to which such policeman 
-belongs, of such suspension, specifying the grounds therefor, 
and the names of the witnesses to establish the charge. In 
every case the mayor shall cause written notice to be given to 
the accused to afford him an opportunity to be heard in bis 
defence. The mayor, and at least two of said aldermen, shall 
examine witnesses under oath upon the charges and for the 
defence, and may for cause continue the suspension, remove 
the party from othce or restore him to duty. The mayor shall 
have power to issue subpoenas, to require the attendance of 
witnesses on the trial of such cases, and disobedience of such 
subpoenas shall render the parties liable to the penalties pro- 
vided by law in courts of record. The testimony shall be 
reduced to writing, and together with the decision of the mayor 
and the said aldermen thereon, shall be filed in the office of 
the clerk of the city. 

^12. The policemen shall receive a per diem compensation 
for each day they shall be employed on duty, which compensa- 
•tion shall from time to time be regulated and fixed by the 
board of finance. 

^ 13. No person connected with the police department shall 
be liable to military or jury duty. 

§ 14. The mayor shall from time to time detail such police- 
men as he may deem proper, to act as messengers of the mayor 
and of the common council, to attend the meetings of that 
body, and to attend and preserve order in all courts and public 
assemblies in the city. The aldermen shall detail a sufficient 
number of policemen within their respective wards to attend 
the polls on the days of election. 

^15. No fees or compensation shall be charged or received 
by any policeman, clerk, or other officer connected with the 
•police department, for any services performed by them as such 
■officers, other than their stated compensation, except in special 
cases, -v/ith the approbation of the mayor. Any officer violat- 
ing this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 
and shall be subject to the fines and penalties provided for 
such offence. 

§ 16, All f«es and costs heretofore paid by the supervisors 
of the county ^of .Kings for services rendered for said county 
by any justice of the peace, or by the constables and marshals 
of the village of Williamsburgh, shall, when similar services 
are rendered by the m&yor, police justice, or by a policeman, 
be audited by the board of supervisors of the county, and the 



128 THE CITY CHARTETt. 

amount audited shall be levied upon the county as other 
county charges, and paid over to the treasurer of the city of 
Williamsburgh for the use of the city. 

^17. The mayor may from time to time appoint in writing, 
as special constables, so many and such persons as may volun- 
tarily accept such appointment, and the persons so appointed 
shall, daring the period for which they are appointed, possess 
all the powers and authority in and by this act conferred upon 
policemen, but shall not be entitled to receive, nor shall they 
receive any compensation for their services as such special 
constables. 

§ 18. All the provisions of the law in relation to summary 
proceedings to recover the possession of lands in certain cases, 
so far as the same are, or can be exercised by the justices of 
the peace of the town of Williamsburgh, at the date of the 
passage of this act, are hereby extended to, and may be exer- 
cised by the justices of the peace of the city of Williams- 
burgh. 

TITLE VII . 

OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

Sec. 1. The fire department of the city shall consist of one 
chief engineer, and as many assistant engineers, foremen, 
hos3nien, axemen, and hook-and-ladder-men as shall from time 
to time be elected by the firemen of said city, and approved by 
the common council; but the present members of the fire de- 
partment of the village of Williamsburgh, shall continue to be 
such without any new appointment under this act. 

^ 2. The mayor, and the members of the common council 
shall be fire-wardens, and they, together with such other fire- 
wardens as the common council may direct, shall possess such 
power, and perform such duties as the said common council 
may from time to time prescribe.' 

^ 3. The common council shall procure fire engines and 
other apparatus used for the extinguishment of fire, and pro- 
vide suitable engine houses, and other places for keeping the 
same, and have the charge and control thereof. They shall 
have the power to organize fire, hook-and-ladder, hose, bucket, 
and axe companies, and to re-organize the present fire depart- 
ment if they think proper. 

§ 4. It shall be the duty of the common council to make 
ru'es and regulations for the government of the officers and 
men attached to the said department, and to impose such pen- 
alties and fines for a violation thereof, not exceeding one hun- 
dred dollars, as the said common council may deem proper; 
and for incapacity, neglect of duty, or gross misconduct, the 
said common council may disband any of said companies, sus- 



THE CITY CHARTER, 129 

pend or expel individual members thereof, in the manner and 
with the restrictions hereinbefore provided for the removal of 
officers of the city government. 

^ 5. Every member of said department shall be entitled to 
the same privileges and exemptions from military or jury ser- 
vice as they are now entitled to by law. Their names shall 
be registered by the clerk of the city, in a book to be provi- 
ded for that purpose, and a certificate from said clerk under 
the corporate seal of the city, of the appointment of any per- 
son as a fireman, and of the time thereofj countersigned by the 
foreman of the company to which such person may belong, 
shall be competent evidence to show that such person is a fire- 
man, and at the time of such countersigning was actually 
serving as such. 

^ 6. All fines and forfeitures accruing within the said city. 
under the laws of this state relative to the extinguishment of 
or proceedings at fires shall be applied to the fire department 
fund of said city, for the benefit of indigent and disabled fire- 
men, and the families of deceased firemen. 

§ 7. Any member of the fire department who shall, while m 
the performance of his duty, be maimed or injured, so as to be 
rendered thereafter unable to perform the duties of a fireman, 
shall receive a certificate of discharge, which shall entitle him 
to all the privileges of a fireman whose time has been regu- 
larly served. 

4 S. The common council shall pass such ordinances as it 
may deem proper, for regulating the storage of gunpowder and 
other articles of a combustible nature, and fix the penalty for 
any violation of the same. All penalties recovered under 
such ordinances shall be for the benefit of the fire depart- 
ment, and shall be paid over to the officers authorised to re- 
ceive the same. 

^ 9. When a building shall be on fire in said city, the mayor, 
with the advice of the chief engineer, or in his absence under 
the advice of two of the assistant engineers, and with tlie 
concurrence of four members of the common council, or in the 
absence of the mayor, six of the common council with the like 
advice, may order such building or any adjoining building to 
be pulled down or otherwise destroyed, if they shall deem it 
necessary to stop the progress of the conflagration. 

§ 10. The common council may from time to time, by ordi- 
nance, designate one or more districts in said city of such ex- 
tent, metes and bounds as they may deem proper .within which 
all buildings to be erected after the expiration of three calen- 
dar months from the passage of such ordinance, shall be built 
of brick or stone, or materials other than wood, and in such 
manner as they may determine and specify in such ordinance. 



130 THE CITY CHARTER. 

Said ordinance shall be published in the corporation newspa- 
pers at least once a week for the space of three calendar 
months after the same shall have been passed, and before it 
shall take effect as a law, 

^11. Any building erected in any such district previous to 
the designation thereof, and covered with boards or shingles, 
may be repaired or new roofed with boards or shingles ; and 
all steeples, cupolas, and spires of churches and other public 
buildings, and all privies not exceeding ten feet square, and 
lime houses and sheds the heighl of which shall not exceed 
twelve feet, may be built of wood and boards and covered with 
boards or shingles. 

^12. If any building shall be erected or roofed contrary to 
this act or to the provisions of any such ordinance, the owner 
or owners thereof shall for every such offence, forfeit and pay 
the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to be recovered with 
costs of suit in any court or record within this state, by the city 
for the use of the fire department of the said city, and every 
such building erected or roofed contrary to this act or to the 
provisions of such ordinance shall be decreed a common nui- 
sance, and the owner or occupant thereof may be indicted there- 
for, and on conviction i-hall be punished by fine or imprison- 
ment as the court having cognizance thereof may deem proper, 
and such court shall also order and cause such nuisance to be 
abated or removed. 

TITLE VIII. 

OF COMMISSIONERS OF EXCISE. 

Sec. 1. There shall be elected in each ward of the city, at 
the first election of city officers under this act, one commission- 
er of excise ; and there shall be elected every year thereafter, 
at the amuial election of city officers, such commissioner in the 
ward, where the term of office hereinafter fixed shall expire, 
and in that only. The several commissioners so elected shall 
together constitute a board of excise. 

^ 2. The commissioners of excise first elected, shall, at 
the first meeting of the common council thereafter, be divid- 
ed by the mayor by lot into three classes. The first of said 
classes shall hold office for one year, the second for two years, 
and the third for three years ; but the several commissioners 
of excise elected after the first election of city officers under 
this act, shall respectively hold office for the term of three years. 

^ 3. The common council shall by ordinance fix the penalty 
which shall be paid by every person so elected, who shall neg- 
lect or refuse to qualify and serve as a commissioner of excise, 
and shall enforce the collection of the same, in the manner 
herein provided for collecting other penalties for the violation 



THE CtTV CHARTEH; 131 

of city ordinances; but the penalty to be fixed by said common 
council shall not exceed fifty dollars. 

ij 4. The commissioners of excise shall meet on the third 
Tuesday of January in each year at the city hall, and shall 
elect one of their number president, and may adjourn from 
time to time as they may think proper for the transaction of 
business. The city clerk shall be clerk of the board of excise, 
and shall keep the book of minutes required by law, which 
books shall at all times be open for inspection in the office of 
the said city clerk. 

^ 5. A majority of said commissioners shall be competent to 
execute the powers vested in said board. They shall grant 
licenses to tavern keepers and grocers, who are residents of the 
city of Williamsburgh, to sell wines and liquors, in the cases 
and in the manner, but with the qualifications and re- 
strictions, authorised by law, and may revoke the same at 
pleasure. They shall also fix the sum to be paid for li- 
censes, which shall not bo less than ten nor more than fifty 
dollars. 

^ 6. Such licenses shall be signed by the commissioners 
granting the same, and shall be countersigned by the city 
clerk. They shall not be delivered until the sums to be 
PQ,id therefor, and the fees accruing thereon, are paid to 
said clerk, and the bond required by law is duly executed and 
approved by the board of excise, and when issued shall be in 
force, unless revoked, until the third Tuesday of January in 
the following year. Immediately upon the receipt of such 
sums and fees by said clerk, he shall pay them over to the 
county treasurer, and render an account thereof to the comp- 
troller. 

^ 7. The commissioners of excise shall be entitled to receive 
two dollars a day for their services, in lieu of all fees and per- 
quisites whatever, but the pay of no member shall exceed ten 
dollars in any one year, which, together with the necessary 
expenses of blank forms of license and advertising, shall 
be paid by the county treasurer on certificate of the city 
clerk. 

^ 8. The bonds to be taken on granting licenses shall be 
similar to those prescribed in like cases in the ninth title of 
the tsventieth chapter of the first part of the revised statutes, 
and shall be disposed of and prosecuted in the manner therein 
directed. 

TITLE IX. 

OF THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 

Sec. 1 . At the first annual election of city oflicers to be held 
under this act, and at every annual election thereafter, there 



132 THE CITY CHARTER. 

shall be elected in each ward of said city, four financial offi- 
cers, who shall he freeholders in the city and residents of the 
ward in which they are respectively elected, and who shall 
hold their offices for one year, and until others are elected and 
qualified. The said financial officers, together with the mayor 
and common council, shall constitute and be known as the board 
of finance of the city of Williamsburgh. 

^ 1. Thirteen of the members of said board shall constitute 
a quorum for the transaction of business. The mayor or act- 
ing mayor, shall preside when present at the meetings of the 
board, and the city clerk shall be clerk of said board. In case 
of the absence of said mayor, acting mayor, or clerk, it shall 
be lawful for said board to appoint a president pro tem., or 
clerk pro tem., or both if necessary, out of their number, to 
discharge the proper duties belonging to the president or clerk 
at such meeting. 

^ 2. It shall be the duty of the board of finance on or before 
the first Monday of August in each year, to fix, determine and 
direct the amount of moneys which shall be raised to defray 
the contingent and all other expenses of said city for the cur- 
rent year, including any interest due or to become due on the 
public debt of said city, as well as any instalmr-nts wiiichmay 
become due thereon, together with such sums as may at any 
time be required by law to pay into the sinking fund of the 
city ; and for that purpose they shall meet on the first Tues- 
day of March, and as often thereafter as may be necessary. 
The clerk shall lay before said board the annual statement of 
the mayor, in and by this act directed to be presented to the 
common council, together with the action of the common coun- 
cil thereon. The said board after having fixed and determined 
the amount to be raised as aforesaid, shall cause a statement 
thereof to be made, sigrxcd by the mayor or presiding officer of 
said board, and attested by the clerk, and file the same in the 
office of the city clerk. Such statement may be altered and 
amended by said board of finance from time to time, before the 
first Monday of August, but not after that date. It shall also 
be the duty of said board to fix and determine the amount of 
salaries or compensation which shall be paid to the several offi- 
cers of said city, (except to the aldermen and members of the 
board of finance, and such as are otherwise fixed by this act,) 
for their services as such officers. The salaries of officers shall 
be fixed before their election or appointment ; and it shall be 
the duty of the board of finance of the village of Williamsburgh 
to meet on or before the first Monday of October, 1851, and fix 
the amount of salaries to be paid to the several officers first 
elected under this act. 

^ 4. The common council shall have power in each year to 



THE CITY CHARTER 133 

raise by tax such sums as shall be fixed and determitied 
by the board of finance in manner aforesaid, and to adopt all 
legal and requisite measures for levying and collecting the same. 

§ 5. The common council are hereby authorised and empow- 
ered from time to time in each year, in advance of the collec- 
tion of taxes authorised to be raised as aforesaid, to borrow 
such sum or sums of money as may be necessary to defray the 
current city expenses, as the same may accrue or become pay- 
able, and for that purpose may issue the bonds of the city, 
redeemable at any time or times to be specified in such bonds 
not exceeding one year from the date thereof : Provided, how- 
ever, that the svim or sums so borrowed shall not in the 
aggregate exceed two-thirds of the whole amount which shall 
have been directed by the board of finance to be raised for tlie 
city expenses of the current year. 

I 6. Whenever the common council shall borrow any money 
pursuant to the provisions of the last preceding section, f;o 
much of the moneys which shall have been or shall be direct- 
ed to be raised by tax for city expenses, as shall be necessary 
to pay off the amount so borrowed, with the interest thereon, 
shall become pledged for tiie faithful payment thereof, and 
when collected sha^ll be paid to and held by the treasurer as a 
special fund, to be paid out oiiiy upon warrant drawn against 
such fund, in payment of any sum or sums so borrowed as 
aforesaid with intei-est thereon. 

^ 7. The common council may, from time to time, borrow 
upon the corporate bonds of the city, for the purpose of making 
such permanent improvements as would be a general charge or 
tax upon the city, such sum or sums of money as may be au- 
thorised by the board of finance in the manner hereinafter 
"directed, but the aggregate amount of all the sums so borrowed, 
in any one year, shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars. 

^ 8. Before the board of finance shall be convened for the 
J)urpose of authorising such loan, the common council shall, 
by a vote of a majority of all the members thereof, to be as- 
certained by taking and recording the ayes and noes, pass a 
resolution setting forth the sum proposed to be borrowed, and 
the specific purposes to which the same shall be applied. 
The resolution shall be certified by the clerk, and presented 
to the mayor; if he approve of the same, or if he do not re- 
turn it with his objections within the time hereinafter men- 
tioned, he shall cause a notice to be served upon each member 
of the board of finance, either personally, or by leaving the 
same at his residence, setting forth the amount of the pro- 
posed loan, and the object or objects thereof, and fixing the 
lime and place of meeting of said board for the purpose of de- 
12 



134 THE CITY CHARTEE. 

termining whether such loan shall be authorised. If he do 
not approve of such loan, the mayor shall, within ten days 
after the receipt thereof, return said resolution, with his ob- 
jections in writing thereto, and tile the same with the city 
clerk. The common council shall, at its next regular meeting 
thereafter, enter the objections at large on its journal ; after 
wiiich it shall proceed to reconsider the same, and if two- 
thirds of all tlie members elected, shall then agree to pass the 
resolution, the mayor shall cause the notice in this section 
mentioned to be served upon the members of the board of 
finance; such notice shall be served at least one week before 
the me eting of said board. 

§ 9. The board of finance shall meet at the time and place 
mentioned in said notice^ and may by a majority of two- 
thirds of all the members elected, to be ascertained by taking 
and recording the ayes and noes, authorize the common council 
to borrow the whole, or any part of the sum mentioned in the 
aforesaid resolution, subject, however, to the limitation con- 
tained in the seventh section of this title, 

^10. The common council shall thereupon have power to 
borrow upon the corporate bonds of the city, the sum author- 
ized by the board of finance, and for that purpose may issue 
bonds, bearing interest, payable half yearly, at a rate not ex- 
ceeding seven per cent, per annum, and redeemable at such 
time or times, within twenty years, as the common council 
may by resolution determine. 

^11. Whenever money shall be borrowed by the common 
council for any specific purpose, tbe same shall be applied 
only to such purpose, except the surplus thereof, if any sur- 
plus should remain after accomplishing such purpose, 

§ 12. The common council shall have power to borrow, for 
the use of the city, sums exceeding twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars; provided, the proposition for creating such debt shall 
have been previously submitted to the electors of said city at 
a regular charter election^ of which three months' previous 
notice shall have been published in two of the newspapers 
printed and published in the city, and such proposition shall 
have then received the atfirmative vote of a majority of the 
legal voters at such election. The common council may, by 
ordinance, direct the mode and manner of submitting such 
proposition to the electors of said city ; and in case the major- 
ity of said electors shall be in favor of creating such loans, the 
common council, which shall be in office next after such elec- 
tion has taken place, may, by a vote of the majority of all 
the members elected, confirm such loan, and issue bonds 
therefor, payable at such time or times, in such manner, an 
at such rates of interest as they may direct. 



THE CITY CHARTER. 135 

§ 13, The common council are hereby authorized and 
directed to levy and collect annually by tax such sums as shall 
be necessary to pay the interest upon the bonds of the city 
lawfully issued and also the interest upon the bonds here- 
tofore issued by the trustees of the village of Williams- 
burgh, and also such sums as m.ay be necessary to pay off the 
principal or any part thereof accruing during the current year, 
and the faith and property of the city shall be and remain 
pledged for the payment of all moneys heretofore borrowed or 
raised by the trustees of the village of Williamsburgh, under 
or by virtue of any law of this state. 

^14, The common council shall also have power, after any 
assessment for a local improvement has been confirmed, and 
the contract for making the same has been entered into, to 
issue certificates of indebtedness to the contractor, payable 
out of such assessments when collected, and bearing interest 
after the expiration of one hundred and eighty days from the 
delivery of the assessment roll to the collectors, bvit no certifi- 
cate shall at any time previous to the completion of the work, 
exceed seventy-five per cent, in value of the work actually 
done, and they may issue a warrant for the collection of the 
assessment imposed before the work shall have been com- 
pleted. 

4 15. The accounts of the city, and the management of its 
finances shall be under the direction of the comptroller of said 
city, subject to the provisions of this act and to the ordinances 
of the common council. 

TITLE X. 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 

Sec. 1. The provisions of section nine of the second title of 
tiliis act shall not authorise the mayor to veto any appointment 
to office made by the common council, but such appointments 
ehall in all cases require the affirmative vote of a majority of 
the aldermen elected. 

4 2. Any person who may be required to take an oath or 
affirmation under or by virtue of any provision of this act, 
who shall wilfully swear or affirm falsely to any material 
fact or matter under such oath or affirmation legally ad- 
ministered shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of perjury. 

4 3- No per&an shall be incompetent as a judge, justice, 
witness or juror, by reason of his being an inhabitant or free- 
holder in the city of Williamsburgh, in any action or proceed- 
ing in which the city is a party, or interested. 

^4. Every embezzLdmcHt of money that shall be received 
by an officer elected or appointed under ihis act, or by any 



136 THE CITY CHARTER. 

clerk, deputy or assistant, of such officer, shall be deemed a 
felony, punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both. 

§ 5. Every ordinance, resolution, or by-law of the common 
council, may be read in evidence in all courts and legal pro- 
ceedings from the volume of ordinances published, or to bo 
published, by order of said commop council, without any other 
proof of the passage or publication thereof, but such publica-. 
tion shall only be presumptive evidence that the same has 
been duly published in the corporation newspaper as required 
by this act. 

§ 6. Any civil or criminal process, attachment or execution, 
may be served or levied upon any person or property, on 
board of any vessel, which at the time of sueh service or levy 
shall be attached or fastened to any wharf, pier, bulkhead, or 
landing place in said city, or lying so near thereto that a per- 
son can step from the same upon such vessel, or shall be fas- 
tened to any other vessel or vessels, which shall be so attached 
or lying to any such wharf, pier, bulkhead, or landing place, by 
any officer authorized to serve process in said city of Wil- 
liamsburgh. 

^ 7. When a penalty is created or authorized to be cre- 
ated by this act, and no particular provision is herein made 
^s to the application thereof when recovered, such pena,lty 
shall, when so recovered, be paid into the city treasury for the' 
use of the city. 

^ 8. The existing ordinances, by-laws, and regulations of 
the trustees of the village of Williamsburgh, shall be and 
continue in full force and effect, until the same shall be 
repealed by the common council. 

§ 9. No alderman shall have power to discharge from arrest 
or imprisonment, any person arrested or imprisoned by any 
other alderman, policeman, or constable. 

^10. The office of the city clerk is hereby declared a town 
clerk's office, for the purpose of depositing and filing therein 
all books and papers required by law to be filed in a town 
clerk's office in said city, and with regard to such books and 
papers, the city clerk shall possess the powers and perform 
the duties of a town clerk, 

§ U- AH property and rights of property, and s^ll estate, 
real and personal, vested in or belonging to or held in trust 
by the trustees of the village of Williamsburgh, at the time 
this apt sh^U take effect as a law, shall be and are hereby 
vested in the city of Williamsburgh, and the said corporation 
by its corporate name of the " City of Williamsburgh," shall 
succeed to all the rights and liabilities of said corporation, 
under the name of the " Trustees of the village of Williams- 
burgh;" and all such rights or lic^bilities may be enforced by 



THE CITY CHARTER. 137 

or against the said city of Williamsburgh. with the same effect 
and to the same extent as if this act had not been passed, and in 
all actions pending in any court at the time this act shall take 
effect, in which the said corporation the trustees of the village of 
Williamsburgh shall be a party, the court in whicli such 
action is pending shall substitute the said city of Williams- 
burgh in the place of the trustees of the village of Williams- 
burgh, and the same proceedings shall thereupon be had as if 
the city of Williamsburgh had been the original party. 

^ 12. The common council shall have power by a majority 
of two-tliirds of all the members elected, io discontinue any 
unfinished proceedings for the opening or widening of any 
street, avenue, public square, or park, in said city, and also to 
discontinue any unfinished proceedings commenced by the 
trustees of the village of Williamsburgh. for the opening or 
widening of any street or avenue in said village, and shall 
pay the expenses incurred in the proceedings thu.s discontinued. 

\ 13. The several officers to be elected at the town and 
charter election, to be held in the village of Williamsburgh. 
in April, 1851, shall hold their offices until the first Monday 
of January. 1852. at which time their several terjns of office 
shall expire, except as is herein otherwise provided ; and the 
term of all persons holding office by appointment from th«i 
trustees of said village, elected at said election, shall expire 
at the same time. 

M4. The act entitled an act to condense and ameij^i the 
several acts relating to the village of Williamsburg^ passed 
April 23, 1844; also the act to amend and explain the same, 
passed ]\Iay 13, 184G; also the act entitled ''an. act in relation 
to the town and village of Williamsburgh,'' paA^^sed 2^!areh 15, 
1848; also the act to amend the same passed March 15, 
1848- also the act entitled ••'an act to ameorf the charter of 
the village of Williamsburgh," passed March 1, 1849, and all 
other acts and parts of acts inconsistent with, or repugnant to 
this act, are hereby repealed; but such repeal shall not affect 
any proceedings commenced before this act takefe effect as a 
law, and the same may be continued and completed, and all 
prosecutions for any offence committed, or penally, or for- 
feiture incurred, shall be carried on with the same effect a« 
though this act had not been passed. 

^ 15. This act is hereby declared to be a public act, 

§ 16. So much of this act as relates to the election of offi- 
cers, shall take effect on the day of the next general election 
for state officers in November, one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-one ; the remainder of this act shall not take effect 
until the first Monday in January, one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-two 
*12 



CONTENTS. 



ART. 8KCT. 

Abstracts of roll to be made Y 9 

Act when to take place, X 15 

Affidavit of publication, V 22 

Aggregate amount of money borrowed in one year, IX 7 

Aldermen divided into two classes, II 3 

Aldermen, number of, II 2 

Aldermen, quorum of, II 6 

Aldermen, terms of office, 11 4 

Aldermen, vacancies of, II 5 

Alterations of Streets, • • IV 30 

Annual estimates of money to be raised, II 19 

Assessment, and notice thereof, HI 17 

Assessors, Ill 15 

Assessors, their compensation, HI 18 

Assessors, their general duties, Ill 19 

Attorney and Counsel, HI H 

Attorney and Counsel, cost of fees, • IV 19 

Ballots, • - • • Ill 4 

Board of Assessors, HI 16 

Bond of Collector, V 2 

Bonds of Licenses, VIII 8 

Books and property to be delivered over, Ill 30 

Borrowed money, to be specially applied, IX 11 

Bounds, I 1 

Buildings, when they may be pulled down, VII 9 

Canvass of votes, HI 5 

Certificates of indebtedness, • ■ • • IX 14 

City Clerk, • HI 12 

City Officers, Ill 1 

City Surveyor, HI 13 

Clerk'sOffice, X 10 

Collector, - ■ V 1 

Collector, penalty of embezzlement, V 6 

Collector, salary of, V 5 

Collector, suspension of for cause, V 3 

Combustibles, • • • VII 8 

Commissioners appointed, IV 23 

Commissioners' appeal when heard, IV 13 

Cormifiissioners, confirmation of, IV 13, 

Commissioners' notice in corporation papers. IV 25 

Commissioners' proceedings, IV • 6 

Commissioners" proceedings after report, IV 12 

Commissioners, their compensation, IV 29 

Commissioners, their report, IV 7 

Common Council, II 1 

Common Council, enumeration of powers, 11 11 

Common Council, general powers granted, II 12 

Common Council may remove unsafe buildings, II 17 

Common Council, penalties of, • II 13 

Common Council, powers of, II 7 



CONTKNTS, 



ART. aRfT. 

Common Council, stated meetings of, II 10 

Common suits for penalties, II 11 

Competency, X 3 

Comptroller, Ill 8 

Comptroller, accounts of, IX 15 

Conveyance of land by Street Commissioner. V 32 

Corrected rolls of warrants, Y 7 

Damages, how to be paid, lY 1.1 

Damages, when a person is separated from highway, lY .11 

Disabilities, Ill 31 

E lections, Ill 3 

Eligibility to office, Ill 2 

Embezzlement, X 1 

Engines and apparatus, YII 3 

Excise Commissioners, YIII 1 

Excise Commissioners classed, YIII 2 

Excise Commissioners' compensation, YIII 7 

Excise Commissioners' form of granting licenses, YIII fi 

Excise Commissioners' penalty for refusing to serve, YIII 3 

Excise Commi.ssioners, President of, YIII 4 

Excise Commissioners shall grant licenses, YIII 5 

Existing ordinances, •' • - - X 8 

Expense of collection, Y 4 

Fees and costs to be audited and paid to the city treasurer,- ■ ■ • YI 10 

Fees prohibited, • • YI 1 •") 

Fence viewers. ■ • • - II 18 

Financial department, board of, • ■ • • IX 1 

Financial department, president of, IX 2 

Financial department, quorum of, IX 2 

Financial department, their dutie.<;, IX 3 

Financial department, their powers to borrow money, IX 'I 

Financial department, their powers to raise taxes, IX 4 

Financial department, two thirds necessary to borrow money, ■ • IX \) 

Fire department, officers of, YII 1 

Fire department, fines and forfeitures of, YII G 

Fire department, wardens of, YII 2 

Fire limits, ■ YII 10 

Fire limits, exceptions of, YII 11 

Firemen disabled, YII 7 

Fire wardens, &;c., Ill 22 

(jrrading and paving streets. lY 21 

Illegal proceedings, expense of, Y 10 

Inspectors of work, I Y 32 

Interest to be annually paid by tax, IX 13 

Justices of the peace. YI (5 

Justices of the peace not to have criminal jurisdiction, YI 7 

Lands may be bid in for city, Y 21 

Jjien #f assessments, 1 Y 20 

Maps and plans to be prepared, • • ... ... ■ -, lY 22 

Maps of land to be taken, lY 5 

Mayor, h"s duties. .• • ITI 6 

Mayor, his salary, Ill B 

Mayor shall be Supervisor, Ill H 

Mayor's term of office, Ill H 

Mayor, vacancy in the office of, Ill 7 

Messengers, YI 1 1 

Money borrowed, how to be paid, ..-.---.. IX G 

Money to be refunded, - Y 29 



CONTENTS. 



ART. SECT. 

Ifame, • • I 2 

Newspapers to be designated, II 16 

Oaths of office, Ill 26 

Official bounds, Ill 23 

Ordinances, proof of, X 5 

Ordinances, when to be law, II 8 

Pay of commissioners, IV 16 

Penalties for violation of act, VII 12 

Perjury, J. 2 

Police department, VI 8 

Police Justice, VI I 

Police Justice, his jurisdiction in civil cases, VI 2 

Police Justice, his jurisdiction in criminal cases, VI 3 

Police Justice office, VI 5 

Police Justice salary, VI 4 

Policemen, compensation of, VI 12 

Policemen, excused from military and jury duty, VI 13 

Policemen, duties of, VI !) 

Policemen, duties of at fires, VI 10 

Policemen, suspension for cause, VI 11 

Power to discharge from arrest, X 9 

Present village officers, • X 13 

Proceeding in Common Council on commissioners' report IV 27 

Proceedings when all the land of any person may be required,- IV 10 

Proviso on lands and premises, IV 9 

Publication of ordinances, II 15 

Publication of receipts and expenditures, II 9 

Reassessment, expense of, • V 19 

Redemption of land, V 28 

Rejected assessments, V 18 

Rejected taxes, how levied, V 17 

Removals from office, Ill 29 

Repeal, • • X 14 

Resignations, Ill 28 

Residue of lots, IV 8 

Rights of idiots, infants, &c., V 30 

Rights of infants, how guarded, IV 18 

Rights of mortgages, V 26 

Salaries, Ill 27 

Sale, when and how made, • V 23 

Sealer of weights and measures, Ill 20 

Services of notice, how proved, V 27 

Service of process, • . X 6 

Special constables, VI 17 

Street Commissioner, Ill 9 

Street Commissioner to give notice o,f unpaid taxes, V 21 

Street Commissioner to make return of payment, V 31 

Streets and avenues, IV 1 

Streets and avenues, commissioners of, to assess damages, IV 3 

Streets and avenues, expenses of, how defrayed, IV 4 

Streets and avenues, notice of application for improving, IV 3 

Streets and avenues, opening of, IV 2 

Summary proceedings, VI 18 

Sureties, to justify, Ill 25 

Taxes, account of unpaid, V 13 

Taxes, account of unpaid, when to, be sent ta Street Commissioner, V 16 

Taxes, how received and acco,unted for, ... = ....... . . V 10 



CONTENTS. 



ART. BKCT. 

Taxpa, if not paid over, bond to be sued, V 14 

T;nes, payments of, may be made to treasurer or comptroller, • • V l-l 

Taxes, per centage for collecting, V 2 

Taxes uncollected after hundred and eighty days, V \'2 

Terms of office, when to commence, Ill 21 

Terms of sale, V 25 

Treasurer, Ill 10 

Unfinished proceedings, X 12 

Vacancies, how filled, Ill 28 

Veto, X 1 

Village and city property, X 2 

"Ward con.stables, Ill 1 i 

Wards, I 3 

Wards to, be townis, I 4 

Warrants, how issued, dated and signed, Y 8 

When improvements are to be made, • IV 11 

When more than twenty-five thousand dollars may be borrowed, IX 12 

When money to be refunded, IV 17 







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